7 Must-Have Gadgets to Make Life Easier for Grandparents

In our house, the Amazon Echo Show is a favorite of my wife’s, mainly because it’s perfect for following recipes when her hands are covered in flour or dough. Its combination of voice commands and a screen makes it incredibly practical, especially for tasks where you can’t easily grab your phone or flip through a cookbook.

Beyond the kitchen, I’ve seen how impactful devices like the Echo Show can be in care home settings. A simple voice command to play music or control smart-home features can be a game-changer for someone who can’t move around easily or for a carer who has their hands full. This is why it’s number one on the list, if your grandparent has any mobility or communication issues, but access to the internet, an Echo Show could be life-changing. 

What sets the Echo Show apart for seniors is its combination of voice and screen functionality. For elderly users with hearing challenges, having a screen display information visually, like reminders or video call notifications, along with easy and natural commands, makes it far more effective than video assistants without a screen. I know a smartphone can do the same, but that often requires some finger dexterity, or at least remembering where they left the charger (this is a constant for me and my wife when trying to get a hold of the in-laws). Having a device that’s always on, always listening, and always available for your elderly grandparent can provide peace of mind for all involved (however, remember you need specific devices for Echo Shows to communicate).

For my mother-in-law, the Kindle Paperwhite E-Reader has been a game-changer. She loves books, but physical challenges have made reading increasingly difficult. Her hands are not what they used to be, and holding a paperback or flipping pages became a real struggle. On top of that, her eyesight has declined, and unless there’s a spotlight directly overhead, reading traditional books became frustrating. The Kindle Paperwhite solved all problems. It weighs next to nothing, uses a simple tap-to-turn-page functionality, offers adjustable font sizes, and has a built-in backlight that makes reading easy anywhere (we got her a snazzy stand so that she doesn’t even have to hold it). 

The Kindle is also an affordable option, especially compared to something like an iPad. While an iPad might offer more features, it comes with its own challenges, like complexity, If your grandparent loves reading, the Kindle Paperwhite is probably the best option available. It’s intuitive, focused, and perfect for keeping books accessible and enjoyable. Plus, it’s made gift-giving easy for us, sending her new Kindle books keeps her library fresh without taking up shelf space or adding clutter.

I’ll admit, I’ve never been a big fan of fitness trackers or smartwatches. My wife and daughter both wear them, tracking every step and every heartbeat, but I never saw the appeal, until recently. After being diagnosed with several health issues that now require constant monitoring, like blood pressure, I’ve come to understand just how important it is to track vital signs. Devices like these can provide a wealth of information that’s not only helpful for managing your health but can also be shared with a doctor or family when needed. Looking back, I wish I’d trusted this technology earlier. It might have prompted me to make better decisions about my health long before I had to.

For grandparents, devices like the Fitbit or Spade & Co. Health smartwatch, can be even more impactful. They’re simple, focused devices that track important metrics like heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and daily activity. Some even include emergency assistance buttons, which can provide real peace of mind for both them and you, especially if they’re still active or live alone.

Not everyone will want a device like this, but if your grandparent is open to it, it’s worth checking out. With their permission, you can even access their health data to keep an eye on their well-being. Honestly, I wish we’d given something like this to my father-in-law or my mom years ago, it could have made a real difference.

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For my mother-in-law, managing multiple medications was a constant source of stress. With several tablets to take at different times of the day, it became difficult to keep track of what she had taken and when. An automatic medication dispenser turned out to be a lifesaver. With preset dispensing times, alarms, and secure compartments, it removed the guesswork entirely. It didn’t just help her stick to her routine, it also gave the family peace of mind, knowing she was staying on track with her medication plan. This is something I wish we had used before my mom went into a care home as we had regular issues with medication. 

Now that I’m a grandparent myself and on five pills a day, I’ve come to appreciate just how helpful these dispensers can be. The alerts keep me accountable, and the organized compartments ensure I don’t miss a dose, or accidentally take one twice. Staying on top of my medication is essential, and this gadget has helped me stay on the straight and narrow.

Automatic medication dispensers are simple but essential tools for anyone managing medication routines. They’re especially helpful for seniors, offering structure and reminders that reduce stress and mistakes (this should have been much higher on this list). 

For my mom, who has dementia, a digital photo frame was one of the simplest yet most impactful gifts we ever gave her. We set it up so that all my siblings could stream pictures to the device over the internet. Long before her dementia progressed, she could sit and see a constant slideshow of family memories, all without needing to know anything about technology. I know TVs can do this, but my mom and technology didn’t go well together. 

As her condition worsened, the frame became more than just a way for her to see photos; it was a way for us to try to keep her memories fresh. While it didn’t necessarily help her hold onto those moments, it gave us a sense of connection and comfort in keeping her surrounded by familiar faces and happy times. This is doable via printed pictures, but each time we tried to add photo frames, they would disappear in boxes or folded away on shelves. 

Digital photo frames are incredibly easy to use. They can run from a mains connection and allow you to load images via a flash drive if WiFi is not an option. To set up a digital photo frame takes seconds, and for grandparents who may not be tech-savvy, this makes a huge difference.

One of the last things we got for my mom was a universal TV remote with large, easy-to-read buttons. It didn’t cost much, and while it didn’t provide the same peace of mind as some other gadgets, it made a noticeable difference in her daily life. Knowing she could still turn on the TV and pick the channel she wanted to give her a small but meaningful level of independence. For someone spending a lot of time at home, especially alone or unable to move around much, that small convenience can make a big impact.

That said, not everyone takes to these remotes the same way. When we tried to give one to my mother-in-law, she wasn’t impressed, and she still refuses to use it to this day. From that experience, I’d recommend bringing up the idea first to see if they’re open to it before going ahead with the purchase.

For seniors who are still watching TV but struggling with their hands or eyesight, a large-button remote is a simple, affordable, and practical solution. 

We originally bought a grabber tool for my elderly uncle as a bit of a joke. He’d been fit and healthy his whole life, so the idea of him needing a stick to pick things up seemed amusing at the time. Ironically, it turned out to be one of the best gifts we ever gave him. He loved it. The grabber made such a difference in his day-to-day life that we’ve since bought them for two other older family members on the back of his endorsement. 

If you’ve ever had a bad back, you’ll understand how hard it can be to bend down or reach for something. For elderly people with mobility issues, that challenge is magnified. I’ve been told stories about elderly people not moving because of aches and pains, and that means they’re unable to get to anything slightly out of reach. A grabber tool can change that entirely, offering a way to reach items on high shelves, low cupboards, or even the floor, without straining.

What’s best about this, is that you can make it into a joke and they’re affordable for most budgets.

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