Helpful Tools for People with Parkinson’s
Cool gadgets and resources for accessibility and wellness
At Power for Parkinson’s, we understand the importance of accessible, convenient, and helpful resources that promote the highest quality of life for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. We know that PD looks different for everyone, so we've curated a list of products that can help you live well wherever you are on your journey.
Most of the items we’ve listed are connected to an affiliate link, which means we'd get a small percentage (3-10%) of the cost if you buy through the link. We’re community-funded, so this is just another way you can show your support for PFP!
At-Home Accessibility
Maintaining independence and being safe while avoiding falls is essential for most people with Parkinson’s. The two items below can help with daily activity and are great for travel too.
Portable Grab Bars – These removable, reusable, and portable grab bars are installed via suction for anywhere in the bathroom including the shower, bathtub, and toilet. If standing up or staying balanced is a challenge, these bars can provide stability and support to make your home comfortable. Not only are these great for home use but perfect for travel and can help ensure more flexibility and security when staying in unfamiliar lodging.
Car Door Support Handle – This portable car door handle makes getting in and out of the car easier. It’s designed to be sturdy and comfortable, making transportation more manageable. Even though we encourage you to practice sit to stands, Parkinson’s doesn’t always behave, and this simple support handle can make it easier to get around.
Minimizing toxin exposure at home
Much of Parkinson’s research now indicates toxins in our environment have a direct correlation with PD. In addition to drinking filtered water and eating organic produce washed thoroughly, these items help you avoid damaging forever chemicals and micro-plastics.
Blueland Non-Toxic Cleaning Products – With clean ingredients and a plastic-free formula, Blueland provides products including soaps, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, cleaning sprays, and more to keep your home clean.
Caraway Non-Toxic Cookware – Caraway designs their cookware to be health conscious, making clean materials the priority. They manufacture ethically and package responsibly with a goal to make life–and cooking–easier.
Clothing
We know Parkinson’s tremors, stiffness and decreased flexibility can make getting dressed tricky, especially when it comes to buttons, zippers and tying shoes. Magnetic closures can make life inordinately easier. Slip on shoes are also perfect for people with PD. We’ve included some of our participants' favorites that are supportive and stylish.
MagnaReady – With clever hidden magnetic closures, MagnaReady aims to make dressing stress free. They offer adaptive clothing that uses magnets instead of zippers and buttons. Our co-founder discovered these for her father over a decade ago. He always liked wearing button down shirts with khakis. These washable shirts always looked neat and allowed him to carry on with the professional look he was accustomed to. They have many styles to choose from and recently even collaborated with Brooks Brothers.
Kizik Shoes – These shoes are designed to be hands-free, with heel technology popping the shoe into place as you slide your foot in. With Kizik, you can slip on your shoes for ease and convenience.
Skechers Shoes – Skechers also have hands-free heel technology allowing you to slip on your shoes. They have max cushioning, arch support, heel support, and are air-cooled for maximum comfort.
Xpand Shoe Laces – If you have a favorite shoe with laces, you can swap the laces with these. They are one size fits all, no tie, elastic shoelaces that are meant to turn any shoe into a convenient and easy slip on. These laces come in many colors and are compatible with any sneaker, boot, or athletic shoe.
PFP Merch – Support PFP by buying a shirt, hat, exercise ball, or workout video DVD. Our clothing is comfortable, stylish, and represents Power for Parkinson’s!
Exercise Equipment
In all our exercise videos we always offer modifications so you can find your own props. But, if you want to go all in, here are links to some of the props we use. We also included walking poles to encourage you to get out and about, swing your arms and have more balance and stability.
PFP Exercise Balls -We often use our exercise ball as a prop in our symptom-directed workout videos. While most balls can be adapted, a lot of people love using the same ball as the instructor.
Drumsticks – Exercise with these drumsticks to add some fun to your workout routine using rhythm, range of motion, grip strength, and more! We use these in many PFP YouTube videos and in-person classes, so these can help you practice or follow along at home.
Dumbbells – Using weights as part of your exercise routine is great for building strength. Grab your own pair if you’d like to strength train from home or alongside our instructors on YouTube.
Trekking Poles – Adjustable, lightweight, and foldable trekking poles aim to make travel, outdoor activities, and everyday activities easier to manage. They are durable, compactable, and built to withstand the elements. We love pole walking for people with Parkinson's because it helps you take bigger strides and swing your arms more naturally.
Health Items
Last but not least, here are a couple of items that might help someone manage their PD better.
Blood Pressure Cuff – With this hands-free blood pressure monitor, there is no need to deal with wrapping a cuff around your arm. This device is designed to make monitoring blood pressure easy, convenient, and more consistent.
Biotene Dry Mouth Lozenges – Dry mouth often accompanies Parkinson’s disease, but these lozenges help stimulate saliva and provide dry mouth relief.
We're here for you every step of the way, providing resources that can help you live well. The right resources can make a real difference in your independence and quality of life, but what works best is often personal, so don't be afraid to try, adjust, and find what fits your journey. I hope these products help you feel safe, confident, and strong!
