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Tool Table: Devices to make everyday life a little easier

Tool Table: Devices to make everyday life a little easier

Status: Ongoing

Bowdoinham United States of America
Print this page City population: 288920.8% over 60Practice started in 2012

Summary

Bowdoinham’s age-friendly action plan includes the goal of increasing the availability of information about simple changes and appliances in the home and car that can make everyday life easier. The latest initiative of the Bowdoinham Advisory Committee on Aging’s (ACOA) Safety and Accessibility committee is a “”tool table”” of devices that can make everyday life at home and in the car a little easier. The tool table includes more than 30 items including pill boxes, four different jar openers, two can openers, a few tab-top openers, stretchable shoe laces, shoe horns, strobe door bell and a strobe smoke detector, a variety of devices to help people get in and out of the car or use a seat belt safely, and several types of grabbers. The reason for having several different types of devices for one task is to allow people to try out different kinds of innovations and find the one which best meets their need. The tool table is available for residents of Bowdoinham and the surrounding area to look at and try whenever the town office is open. The tool table has been a popular stop for residents of all ages who visit the town office. The one-touch can opener that makes life easier for an older person with arthritis is also helpful for a mom holding a toddler while she opens a can.

Key facts

Main target group: Older people in general

Other target group(s): residents of all ages who are living with a disability that makes everyday life more challenging.

Sector(s): Housing

Desired outcome for older people:
Meet their basic needs

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:
  • Accessibility

Contact details

Name: Oh, Patricia

Email address: poh@bowdoinham.com

Preferred language(s): English

Age-friendly practice in detail (click to expand):

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Volunteers

Older people’s involvement: Older people were involved in the age-friendly practice at multiple or all stages

Details on older people’s involvement: The tool table was implemented in response to a request by an older resident of the community who has arthritis for a jar opener. He had looked at local stores but had not been able to find the device he needed. From there, ACOA had conversations with older residents to find out what kind of devices they needed in their home that they had not been able to find. All of the devices on the tool table are a direct response to a need expressed by one of our residents. The Safety and Accessibility sub-committee is made up of volunteers who are all older than 60 years. The Safety and Accessibility sub-committee gathered tools and designed the display.

Moving forward

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: No

Feedback:
Older residents who have looked at the devices have been happy to see the alternative devices available. Younger people have also spent time looking at the devices and have stated that they plan to purchase devices that can make their lives easier even though they are not living with disabilities.

Expansion plans:
Yes, we are planning to increase the number of tools on permanent display and will be taking the tool table on the road to share with older residents who attend community-wide events and our annual Aging Well(ness) Fair

Looking back

Reflections:
It would have been better if we had known, from the outset, that it is very difficult for older residents to find the items on the tool table in local brick and mortar stores. For older residents who do not buy online and/or do not use a credit card, the information is not as helpful as it would be if we had a way for people to purchase the items featured on the tool table at a local retailer.