If You're Caring For Aging Parents Like I Am, Here's What I Recommend Buying On Prime Day

Security equals peace of mind, and that becomes even more important to me as my parents get older. This Ring security light and camera is 50% off and at the lowest price in more than a year, so I wouldn’t bother holding out for Black Friday. Each one puts out 5,000 lumens (in other words, they’re super bright) and everything is recorded to an app that multiple family members can access. I especially like that last part because it means I can check in, too, without actually being there.

Promising review: "Honestly, this thing exceeded my expectations. The floodlights are ridiculously bright, which makes a huge difference at night, and the video quality is super clear. Motion alerts hit my phone pretty much instantly when someone walks by, so I always know what's going on outside.

Install was pretty straightforward since I was just replacing an old light fixture, though wiring it up always takes a little patience. Once it was connected to Wi-Fi, setup took maybe five minutes. Camera angle is wide enough to cover my whole driveway without any weird dead spots.

Definitely worth it if you want solid peace of mind without dealing with laggy feeds or dim lights. 5 stars for sure." — Chris

If your folks have trouble pushing a vacuum around the house, this one from the trusted brand Shark is a no-brainer. It runs for up to 120 minutes on a full charge and maps your home, so there’s very little they actually have to do.

Promising review: "We have four cats, and this Shark has been amazing at keeping up with all the cat hair and keeping our floors clean. We’ve had it for several months now, and I’m really happy with how well it works.

The initial mapping of our house worked really well, and I love being able to use the app to start a cleaning while I’m away. I can turn it on when I’m not home and come back to floors that have been vacuumed and mopped. The app also lets me see where the Shark is in the house and track its progress while it’s cleaning." — Roxanna

Promising review: "I purchased it for my 90 year old mother, she doesn’t exercise anymore, but it’s still necessary that legs receive circulation and are strengthen, to assist in her keeping her balance as she walks.. She hasn’t complained not once, since she's been using it. I recommend purchasing this machine it’s a winner." — Shelia Ashburn-Patterson

It’s no secret that my parents are huge fans of cold therapy. My 78-year-old dad used a cold therapy machine while recovering from shoulder and ACL surgeries, and one of the biggest perks was not having to constantly get up and swap out ice packs. My father-in-law relied on one during his recovery, too, and even my aunt borrowed it after her knee replacement. So, yeah, these things get passed around my family. The one we found on sale for Prime Day isn’t the exact one that we used, but has a very similar design and functionality. You can chose one with pads designed for the specific region of the body where you’re experiencing pain, and also purchase pads for the elbow, calf and ankle separately.

Difficulty opening jars has no age limit, but this is exactly the kind of small kitchen upgrade I’d grab for my parents as they get older. The jar opener mounts discreetly underneath a cabinet, so it doesn’t take up precious counter or drawer space. It comes in white, black or blue and is designed to tackle jars big and small. And as many reviewer pointed out, it can be especially helpful for people with arthritis or carpal tunnel in your hands or wrists.

We got this 10-inch digital frame for my father-in-law last year, and he loves it. Family members can upload photos directly to the frame from virtually anywhere, and it automatically cycles through them in a slideshow. It’s such an easy way for parents and grandparents to keep up with the grandkids and all those everyday moments that might otherwise live exclusively on someone’s phone. It’s 14% off for Prime Day, and I just hope my parents aren’t reading this because I’m snagging one for them this year.

Promising review: "This was so easy to set up. It’s also very easy to send photos to, and for family to send photos to. We got one as a gift and are buying them for gifts for our family as well." — BG

They say you can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep — but apparently you can get one for 20% off on Prime Day. This cushioned sleep mask is at its best price in months and is designed to provide complete blackout. It’s made from soft, breathable material and, perhaps just as importantly, the entire thing is machine washable. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to make bedtime a little more comfortable and falling asleep a little easier.

Promising review: "I had no idea ambient light impacted my ability to sleep so much until I used these and they are an absolute life saver for shift workers or sleeping in different places when it’s hard to control ambient light. Yes, there’s something on your head but not hard to adjust to and worth it! Soft and comfortable and doesn’t slip. 100% improvement for any type of sleep but a game changer when trying to “day” sleep for work." — JB

This travel neck pillow is unlike any I’ve seen before. It provides 360-degree neck support, so whether you tend to doze off leaning left, right or straight ahead, there’s cushioning there to keep your neck supported. It’s an especially nice upgrade for long flights or road trips when falling asleep in an awkward position can mean waking up feeling stiff. Bonus: It’s machine washable and 28% off for Prime Day.

Promising review: "Love this Flat Back Travel Neck Pillow. I've been using the usual neck (horseshoe) pillow for years but it never felt comfortable on a plane because there was too much padding at the back of the neck and doesn't let your head rest on the back of the plane seat; it props my head up and just feels awkward. I was about to take a trip to Spain and knew I was going to be uncomfortable during those almost 10 hours of flying time with that usual horseshoe pillow. I did some Googling an came across this Flat Back Neck Pillow. I love it!!!! The flat back lets me rest my head against the seat but also supports my neck on the sides and front." — YMG

My folks live by this 27-inch digital calendar to keep their appointments straight, and I can see why. You can add everything from doctor’s appointments and dinner plans to the grandkids’ game schedules, then color-code events so everyone knows what’s happening at a glance. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but considering how much my parents use theirs, I think it’s worth it — especially while it’s 12% off, which knocks $100 off the total. It’s also available with charcoal, black, silver or white frames, so it won’t look like a giant piece of tech hanging on the wall.

Promising review: "Was on the fence on whether too buy or not. Well worth the money, it’s expensive but the large model is a must buy. Upgraded to this model! Easy to install, hang and use. Kids and adults can use very easy. Fit great mounted to the wall: looks amazing, great gift idea to someone why wants the organization and versatility. You’ll have to have subscription but worth it to unlock full potential of unit. It’s a practical upgrade for busy family. Buy a cord hider to go with it!" — Top 1000 Rank Dad

Available in beige or black, this sleek 3-in-1 device packs a surprising amount into something that sits on your nightstand. There’s a quiet air purifier, a sunrise light that gradually brightens 15 to 30 minutes before your alarm to help you wake up a little more peacefully and, of course, an alarm clock. At 47% off, I especially like that you’re getting three useful bedside essentials without adding three more gadgets to the nightstand.

Promising review: "I have several Blueair air purifiers. This one is just the right size to place on a bed end table. Very quiet on low speed. Also quiet enough on medium speed as well for me. There is no auto-mode, but you can schedule times for it to change speeds during the day, if you want. It has no sensor to detect contaminants in the air. I have another Blueair in a different part of the bedroom for that purpose. I keep this one on low, and have it scheduled to change to medium speed a couple hours a day, and back to sleep mode at night." — Dathon