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Practical everyday items that make home or travel routines easier
Hi everyone, I’m still learning as a family member and wanted to ask something practical. What small daily-living items, setup changes, or routines have made things easier at home or while traveling? I’m thinking about things like keeping essentials within reach, planning ahead for long trips, making nighttime routines less rushed, or organizing comfort items in a way that reduces stress.
I’m not asking for medical advice more the real-life, everyday things families learn through experience. I’d appreciate hearing what has actually helped.
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3 Replies
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@Jasleen Hhello! I have SMA, which is sort of a sibling condition to MD. Over the years, my family and I have made numerous modifications to our house to make it more accessible. We also travel regularly. The big things I would recommend are: getting a ceiling or Hoyer lift, getting an accessible bathroom with a roll-in shower, and possibly making wall space to make it easier to get around the house. Ultimately, you do what works best for you, but these are some general tips.
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Thank you for sharing this, that’s really helpful. I like how you framed it as testing what works instead of assuming one setup will fit everyone. The accessible bathroom and roll-in shower point makes a lot of sense, especially because daily routines can become stressful when the home layout itself creates extra effort. I hadn’t thought about wall space around the house either, but that seems practical for movement, equipment, or caregiver assistance.
For travel, have you found anything that makes longer trips easier like planning rest stops, carrying backup supplies, choosing accessible accommodations, or keeping certain comfort items in the car?
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Planning ahead always helps me….in the car I bring fruit, granola and other healthy snacks for someone to help me eat on the road……stuff that doesn’t make a mess. I calculate roughly where I’m going to be when stopping for the day and then find a local hotel ahead of time. I call and speak with the desk, letting them know that I need a roll-in shower etc. I also tell them that I am on a road trip and that usually gets them talking! Most local hotels are happy to share where the great local restaurants are as well as things of local interest. Remember that half the fun is the adventure of the journey!!
Pro tip: I usually travel with a plastic lawn chair…..this way, if the hotel shower bench is a mess, I put the plastic chair in and safely use that!!
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