Build-UK Chat Forums

[Stuart]

Trouble cleaning your teeth? Why not try "Oral-B" Brush Aways. These come individually wrapped packs of 12. They fit on your finger, are mint flavoured, and do not need rinsing after use. Ideal for those using peg or rig to keep the mouth fresh. They can be bought in most supermarkets and chemists.

Stuart.
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Dont just live with MND, MAKE IT LIVE WITH YOU. Diagnosed, September, 1997.

[TipaCow]

I keep a back scratcher on my bedside table for those itches I can reach. Well, it's only about 20" long, and not long enough to reach my lower legs and feet. I solved the problem:

I went to Walmart and bought a cheap fishing pole, a two sectioned one. I taped a back scratcher to the section with the handle, and ended up with a lengthy scratcher with a ready made handle!
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I bought a Rubbermaid Lazy Susan for about $6 at Walmart too.. about 16" across. It's really useful on the bedside table to keep things on/in. I keep my two scratchers laying on it, my TV remote, my Tums, my bottles of meds I may need at night, etc.
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Wireless doorbells make a good Call Button. They're inexpensive and easy to install. Put the doorbell chyme in any room, such as your caregiver's bedroom. Then, press the doorbell ringer (I keep one on my bedside table, and another on my keyboard) to alert your caregiver that you need assistance.
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I mentioned in another thread that an electric coffee grinder makes a good pill crusher, especially for lots of pills.
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A half gallon milk or juice container with the top cut down, keeping the handle, makes a great holder for a sports container with a plastic straw.
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For those that smoke, as I do, I found a propane lighter lighter at a Smoke Shop downtown that has the easiest push down device I've ever seen. I used to get a callus on my thumb from trying to make a Bic lighter to work - no more. It cost about $50.
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This may well be my favorite tip. Keep a box of sandwich bags in the glove box of your vehicle. When eating a drippy hamburger or messy taco, put it in the baggie to hold onto as you eat. It really keeps the mess inside the baggie. Great for the young ones too, especially with popcycles and cones.

Tip/Dale

[Scipilot]

Adding my pennies worth but found this tip a god send many times.

Do you ever get those jars with lids that just wont budge? (Only works on screw top jars)

A great tip I was shown a few years back, its simple and works 9 times out of ten.

Simply hold the jar upright and tap the rim (Not the top, just the rim where it is screwed onto the jar) against a solid surface such as a wall or floor or work top. (Dont pick a surface you will damage) Tap it all the way round the lid as if you were trying to dent the rim into to the side of the jar.

Then try to open in the normal way, if it fails to open, try again but taping a bit harder. (DONT GO CRAZY AND SMASH THE JAR!) Twisted Evil Just tap it all the way round the edge.

Its also a great party trick when you see somebody really struggling to open a jar and you just pop it open!

Please let me know how it goes.
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Disabled & Mobility Information & Aids
Disabled Accessibility DDA Audits
Disability Ireland

[Scipilot]

And another

I was shown how to break an egg when you have a bad grip or even arthritis. TRUST ME IT WORKS.

OK, take hold of the egg and place it about 12 inches above a glass dish, DROP THE EGG sounds crazy but the egg shell will (9 times out of 10) break clean in half leaving the yoke completly in tact.

You might need to practice a bit, trying different heights but you will get it right everytime. REMEMBER do NOT hit the side of the dish/bowl, if the egg hits the side it will break uneven.

Once done simply peel the shells apart.
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Disabled & Mobility Information & Aids
Disabled Accessibility DDA Audits
Disability Ireland

[John]

I have just found out that Lloyds TSB will make free of charge a signature stamp for any of their disabled customers. You have to push a bit, because the counter staff are not up to speed on this service.

[Bluepete]

If tube with food try putting coke down works wonders.
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It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

[Wayne]

New tips are always welcome.
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All of us could take a lesson from the weather.....It pays no attention to criticism.
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"Be yourself because everyone else is taken"

[Jennifer51]

just in case people dont know....once you get your dla, did you know that you dont have to pay road tax on whichever car is the primary car used by the disabled person. It is not much of a saving, but it is not means tested and every little helps. We are just waiting to hear if my husband qualifies for the carers allowance...think he should. Our local authority have been brilliant at supplying living aids though the OT as well. We dont buy anything now without checking if we are entitled to it from another source.
Are there any other benefits people know about which are not means tested?

[soulmates2uk]

1. any aid purchased from a recognised disability shop you dont have to pay VAT just sign the form in shop declaring your disability
2. a button hook. big rubber handle with long eye you push through button holes of shirt etc, hook over button and pull through, great for you and your carer and about £6
3.kettle tipper place your kettle onto this stand and you can pour without worrying you'll drop it or knock over
4. velcro get loads!! trosers, socks, pants you can put it everywhere to help you
5. the arm clasp. looks like a remote arm with loads of elastic bands its clamped to a table and you place arm in it and you can use a keyboard with no effort as your arm is suspended so no flaying arms
6. cctv sounds expensive but its not £49 one camera and wiring to a small unit so you can see whose at door.

[IanB]

Not just VAT exemption from disability shops. We have just ordered an adjustable bed from Sterling, and they are sending me a VAT exemption form that I need my doctor to sign to claim exemption from VAT. After all, the reason I'll need one is because I cannot turn over in bed.

Other non means-tested perks are:-

Council tax rebanding (down one band).
Blue badge for parking
London congestion charge exemption (for Blue badge holders). You have to tell them in advance though.

If in doubt, ask your OT/MND adviser etc.

Cheers,
IanB
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[soulmates2uk]

wife has bought me two great gizmo's this week, both battery operated , a jar opener and a can opener. you just place device on top and they take lids off (she says just because im disabled the dog doesnt have to wait for its breakfast!!)

[suzche]

We are both working and have to pay contributions to our adaptations done in the house. We were told Mark had to sleep downstairs whilst we were all upstairs. He wrote to our local MSP to fight our case and we now have a through floor lift up to the bedroom paid for by the Council.

Everything we get, we've had to fight for and we are still constantly fighting. We do have to pay a contribution because of income.

Get your local MP or MSP involved. They seem to be the only people who can create some movement within the NHS or Council.