I have had a lot of objects and services recommended to me, and found others by myself. These are the ones that have actually proved to be useful. All prices are from UK sites and accurate as at the time of writing (July 2026).

This is a dynamic list that I will update as I find more useful things. If you find anything you think might be useful to me, please let me know!

Please note that items marked with a * are Amazon associates links: if you buy something using one of these links, I will receive a small payment from Amazon.

Kitchen tools

Non-slip jar opener*	£9.49	A simple silicon ‘cup’ that gives enough leverage to open stubborn jars. Also useful for holding dead batteries before they go for recycling. (If it works, it works!)
Perching stool*	£48.19	I got mine through the NHS, and this one is slightly nicer, but it’s much the same thing. Adjustable height, makes cooking possible by giving me a place to sit, doubles as a tea towel drying rack when not in use.

Living aids

Cooling blanket*	£21.30	Even mum likes these! Beautifully cool to sit or lie on in hot weather. Comes in lots of different sizes and patterns, if that matters to you.
Cooling gel mat*	£9.99 for pack of two	Plastic mats that go cool when you put pressure on them. Don’t ask me how they work, but they do!
Pivotell Pill Popper*	£24.99	If you struggle to get tablets out of their plastic blister packs, this is an essential thing to own. It’s more expensive than many options on the market, but the cheap ones all broke after a few weeks: this one (so far, touching the nearest wooden item) hasn’t.
Rotary nail clippers*	£6.99	One of the most useful things I’ve bought: long handles give better leverage for my weak hands, and the blade can be moved through 360 degrees so no awkward manoeuvring is needed.

Gardening

Folding padded chair*	£15.99	Light enough to carry out into the garden, waterproof, and folds up flat to store when not in use. Comes in a wide variety of bright colours if lime green isn’t you thing.
Spear & Jackson 5010TR Traditional Stainless Steel 12″ Handle Trowel*	£11.87	It’s a trowel, but with a long handle so you can garden sitting down. Good make, so it should last for a while.

Services

Other things

Noise cancelling headphones*	£18.56	A carer’s best friend! Comes with two sets of cables so you can plug the headphones into whatever device you’re using.
Loop Engage 2 Ear Plugs*	£29.95	If you just need to tone down the noise around you, these are really good: you can still hear every word from the tv in the next room (just for example), but it’s less painfully loud.

Isle of Wight

FYT Bus	£2 for a single ticket. £10 to local medical appointments, £20 to St Mary’s Hospital	Whether you live in West Wight (Freshwater, Yarmouth, Totland) or are just visiting, this is an essential service.
Graces Bakery	Free delivery on orders over £15 (Isle of Wight only)	Of course my beloved Graces is here! Order online or visit their bakeries in Newport, Ryde, Shanklin, or Yarmouth.