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This is going to sound triviai, but I usually eat in my living room so I can watch the big screen tv (I don't have the open floor plan, my house is old), so I bought a black tray with legs in an L-shape which go under the couch so you can pull it right up to you and eat without bending forward like you need to do with a wood tray with straight legs and I love it. I purchased it in BBBY, but it's closed now.
I went the opposite way. I bought a TV for the dining room so I can watch at the dinner table.
I used to do it your way. I had some spills. Mostly I just didn't like the eating position or the rickety little table for my dishes and other dinner items. I finally just broke down and bought a 2nd TV, so I can watch at the table.
My suggestions heard from older people in Florida:
--ditch your boxspring under the mattress if you aren't tall enough to get into a higher bed easily--lower height mattress can also prevent broken bones if you happen to fall out of bed
--get a portable bed rail if you have turned over while asleep and fallen out of bed--get "portable" so you can use it in hotels or while staying with relatives
--do not use small area rugs anywhere-falls are big reason for older people's injuries
--grab bars in shower are very high priority
In our home we:
--added multiple kitchen lighting strips under wall cabinets--no electrician needed since they are available to plug in or on battery
--we're adding more lighting everywhere--our home is 10 years old and there are no lights in closets :-( and hallways need more watts
Don't buy furniture with pointy ends, whether glass or metal or wood
Igor Blevin said:I really wish my shower had seating and some place to put my foot up, one at a time.
We bought a portable shower seat when a pregnant niece visited us. That has been SO useful to use in many other places: gardening, re-arranging lower kitchen cabinets and many other ways
FWIW, lift recliners are something NOT to get unless absolutely required. Most nurses and docs will tell you that the getting out of a chair motion is vital to keep the lower body and abdominal strength.
There are two-step step stools that come with a grab bar on top. I have one, and it makes standing on it safer.
A bed at the proper height for standing up out of it safely, possibly a four poster for the ability to grab the posts.
After the first couple broken tumblers and glasses, plastic replacements. Finding tiny bits of glass is difficult enough, wandering around in sock feet makes the problem worse. The same for dishes.
Good kevlar gloves for use when cutting slippery or odd shaped items.
Old style notebooks for recording doctor visits and important phone calls. It is amazing how a receptionist will dismount a high horse when told "Let's see, oh yes. I have it written in my notebook. I talked with you on August 21 at 2PM and you said... " Doctor instructions don't get lost, and any insurance issues are more quickly resolved. "No, I did not have that test run that visit. I had ..." (It can be done on a phone, but in a court of law, a notebook that has fixed pages will trump most phone notes.)
A good sitting window and/or front porch. Even if only used a few days a year, they keep a connection with nature and the world around.
I will just put in a plug for the best step ladder I have found. It is light and has 3 usable steps, with a high grab bar for stability. It is just wonderful. I can't believe how light it is for its size, just 17 pounds. It looks heavier than it is. It is light.
It folds up completely flat so it stores in a small gap. I can't recommend this step ladder enough.
The only con - it is expensive at $300 but it is super safe, light, useful, easy to maneuver, and holds 300 pounds.
More obscure / luxury accessories:
[] Foot Pedal Sink Faucet Controller - have your kitchen sink or bathroom sink controlled by your foot. Useful if both hands are needed, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-St...dp/B07X59KMFS/
[] Pot filler - a cold water faucet over the cooktop, so you can fill a pot on the stove. Don't have to lift a heavy pot of water.
Champagne taste / beer budget
[] In the past, there were a number of companies that made "all refrigerators" / "freezerless refrigerators". You could mix and match with an upright freezer and get the capacity of a $4k luxury model for 1/4 the price.
The advantage - you don't have to compromise on placement of "your" items. Each unit is optimized for its function.
The next best "trick" is to buy 2 generic refrigerators with top freezers (with no gadgets to break), to get the capacity of an upright freezer.
Make sure that the thermostat and sensor are easy to replace. We had to replace ours ($20 part), and saved ourselves $300 service call.
Curbless shower.
Toto toilet with washlet. Warm water for your butt. Then a quick dry.
Towel warmer.
Radiant heated flooring.
LED lit bathroom mirrors.
Drawers in all lower cabinets.
Induction hob. Faster, more energy efficient, safer.
Wall ovens. At your desired height.
Wine fridge.
Front loader washer.
High quality ceiling fans. For example, BigAssFans.com
Rachio sprinkler controller if you have irrigation.
Ekornes Stressless chair(s).
Aeron chairs if you have home office.
100% LED lighting in the color temperature of your choice.
Speakers in all the rooms to enjoy music everywhere.
Last edited by davebarnes; 08-30-2023 at 01:46 PM..
I had radiant floor heat put in when the house was built but it rarely comes on in the winter, due to the eastern sun blasting in. I do like it very much, as do the dogs.
Hire for landscaping/weed pulling. I have a small lot. It's too hot and I'm too tired to do it myself.
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