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General Chronic Illness Essentials
57
items Everything that helps me navigate daily life with my chronic illnesses and disability and the things that make life a bit easier.
Sections
5
Mobility Aids
Accessories and Everything Else
Tech
Chronic Illness Resources
Other Helpers
Mobility Aids
My favorite mobility devices that help with everything from getting around to taking a break. Some of these I own and some of these I've tried at Expos and would desperately love to own.
This is my everyday chair. It's lightweight and easy for me to pull in and out of the car on my own when I sit on the back bumper.
Quickie QRi
This is the rollator I use to get around my house need it. It's fairly light and easy to use, but it's clunky for folding up.
Aluminum Rollator w/7.5" Casters
I have these stools everywhere around my house (kitchen, bathroom, hallway, top and bottom of the stairs). I can't even tell you how many of them I own.
Folding Backless Stool 24" 225lb Capacity
Having a shower chair is so important to my routine! I can't shower standing up. It's really important to have a sturdy, dependable chair.
Adjustable Shower Chair, Heavy Duty, 350 lb Capacity
I have this travel chair for when we go to AirBnB's that might not have accessible accommodations. I like this one because its still sturdy when it unfolds.
Drive Medical Bathroom Bench, White (12486)
I love this little stool for traveling! I keep mine in the car so I always have something with me.
Telescoping Portable Stool, 550lbs Capacity
I have this DRIVE chair (with the footrests removed) for in the house. I use it for when I'm vacuuming or sweeping and need to sit to do so. Because it's less expensive, I feel less bad about customizing it to fit my needs.
Drive Medical Blue Streak Wheelchair with Flip Back Desk Arms, Swing Away Footrests, 20" Seat
I like these for the guest bathroom in our house because they can be pushed up out of the way when I don’t need them.
Grab Bars & Toilet Handrails
We use this in the main bathroom because it feels durable and secure.
Medline 31 in. Toilet Safety Rail with Adjustable Height G30300H
A great scooter for getting out and doing things like walking with kids and dogs. Has a great range with battery life.
Travel Pro 3-Wheel
If you’re looking for a light weight, portable transfer chair. This is a good option. A transfer chair requires you have someone to push you, as theirs no way for you to propel yourself. But if you have someone to push you when you get tired, this is...
Lightweight Expedition w/12" Rear Wheels
A rollator and a transport chair all in one! Perfect for anyone with both fatigue and instability or dizziness.
Translator
The ultimate device for exploring the world. I want one of these sooo badly! I saw one at an Expo. AMAZING.
Rig Lineup Landing Page
I’ve never gotten to try this rollator, but I’d love to. It’s the lightest one on the market at just slightly over 10 lbs and collapses down for easy transport.
Carbon Ultralight
Turn the chair you have into a scooter! How cool is that?
Firefly 2.5 Electric Scooter Attachment
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd buy one of these.
The SmartDrive Power Assist Drive | RGK Wheelchairs
A nearby National Park has one of these! I don't think I'll ever own one personally, but it was pretty fun to use!
Action Trackchair - The Ultimate All-Terrain Wheelchair
A product you might never have heard of. I don't personally need this, but I feel like the people who need it don't know it exists.
Free 2 Go Mobility Products
For those who need help getting in and out of their tubs, this is a great device.
ShowerGlyde Model SG1
Okay, the super cool thing about this chair is you can literally summon it to come to you from an app on your phone. So if you're on the couch and it's parked across the room, you pull out your phone, tap a button and it drives itself over to you wit...
WHILL Model C2: Portable Electric Wheelchair
Accessories and Everything Else
The items that make my life easier around the house and while I'm out and about.
These are a lifesaver for my Auditory Processing Disorder! They have several kinds. I have the ones that let you still experience sounds, but they cut the background noise. It makes going out to eat in a loud restaurant a lot more enjoyable!
Loop Earplugs: Your Life, Your Volume
I can't open bottles or jars without these tools. I might actually call these a lifesaver for when I'm at home alone.
5 in 1 Jar Opener for Weak Hands & Seniors
This lets you keep an updated medical portfolio available that someone can scan in an emergency OR call a phone number and get the details of your conditions, medications, and any other important medications. You can log in and update it anytime!
MyID Sleeve Medical ID
I was completely skeptical of these caps, but I couldn't believe how amazing it! The slight pressure paired with the cool sensation is unbelievably relaxing.
TheraICE Migraine Relief Cap & Cold Mask
This cleaning tool saves me SO MUCH energy while cleaning my bathroom shower and tub. I can literally sit on my shower chair and just move it around.
Cordless Electric Spin Scrubber, 8 Heads
These headphones help me hear the TV at night when my husband is sleeping. Without them, I'd need the volume up so loud to hear.
Wireless TV Headphones for Seniors with Base
This lap desk makes my life so much easier! When I'm working from bed or the couch, this is a game changer.
Portable Lap Desk for 17" Laptop - Black
Adding these push rim covers made it easier for me to maneuver my chair because of the arthritis in my hands. It makes the push rims just a little bit chunkier. HOWEVER, it does make them a little slippery in the rain.
24in Wheelchair Push Rim Covers - Black
This is so helpful for me when I'm trying to conserve energy in the kitchen.
Food Chopper with Container & Fruit Slicer
A great way to have my meds with me when I need to leave the house. I never have to worry about where I left them.
Stanley Cup Pill Holder
A great, basic wheelchair cushion. Comfortable and durable for everyday use. I've had mine for 2 years and its still as comfy as the day I got it!
Jay Basic
A tool that can be useful for helping get in and out of cars, especially low cars. I have one in both our vehicles!
Handy Bar
A functional support device! Use it as a table and lean on it when you need to stand up.
Signature Life Collection Independence Tray Table
An easy to use strap to help secure things when you’re lap-carrying. This is so helpful.
LapStacker
The perfect sized bag that easily secures under your seat pad. This is a great storage option. I LOVE mine.
Large Wheelchair Bag
I liked this cupholder, however you have to be careful with how you position it. If you place it incorrectly, you'll constantly be knocking your drink into walls and spilling it.
Wheelchair and Rollator Cup Holder
These are the specific Loops I use to help filter out background noise with my ADP.
Engage 2 Plus
I was surprised at how easily and quickly these got cold with just water
Dr.Chilly™
Tab Buddy’s are super handy mobility aids for opening cans and bottles. They come in all sorts of cute designs!
Disability Pride Tab Buddy - Cute Drink Can Opener Keychain - Celebrate Diversity and Accessibility - arthritis, physical, neurodiversity
Tech
All the tech I've been trying to manage my chronic illnesses.
I love Visible. It helps me manage my energy so much! I suck at pacing but the reminders are great.
Visible - Activity tracking for illness, not fitness.
I pinned the article about this tech in the resources section, but I've been wearing this for a few months now. It's comfortable and I don't notice it, but I'm not sure I completely understand the readings.
Lumia Health | Track Blood Flow to Your Head for Chronic Conditions
This app has a section dedicated to chronic pain. It seems crazy to think it would help, but I've actually found its helped me fall asleep more than once!
Discover personalized meditation with the Balance app
Red light therapy is supposed to do wonders for fatigue and chronic pain. I'm still experimenting with it.
Mini Red Light Home Therapy
I volunteer with this organization. If someone needs assistance, your phone rings and you can help them through the camera on their phone.
Be My Eyes
Real-time captions in any situation
Ava - All-in-One Click Captions for All Conversations
This is a nice app for symptom tracking and finding patterns.
Bearable Symptom Tracker App | Track Pain, Mood & Medication
This is a paid app but its stoplight system can be great for pacing.
TachyMon
Chronic Illness Resources
Resources I've collected that might help you start your journey.
I'm wearing this new device. I pinned it in the tech section.
New in-ear device promises to predict fainting, help understand dizziness and brain fog
Information on traveling Internationally with medications that are restricted.
IAMAT | Home
A great resource site for people with forms of dysautonomia. Also check out the resources in my POTS list.
Dysautonomia International: Dysautonomia Awareness, Dysautonomia Advocacy, Dysautonomia Advancement
Primarily focused on EDS pain, but a great resource for chronic pain in general.
Chronic Pain Partners
A whole database for rare diseases.
National Organization for Rare Disorders | NORD
A great community for all sorts of health needs. There is usually a community for each specific disease within this larger community.
The Mighty. Making health about people.
Other Helpers
Anything else that might help!
An all in one Accessibility focused travel agency.
Accessible Travel: Find and book accessible hotels, rental ...
Another rating system for accessible locations. This one uses a star system.
Home | iAccess Life
A tool for searching and rating the accessibility of restaurants and venues. It uses a red, yellow, and green system.
AXS Map
Being able to buy my glasses online makes my life so much easier. Mostly because anything that makes it so I don't need to leave the house is a win.
Eyebuydirect: Buy Prescription Glasses Online