Smoothing Out Aging's Rough Edges

Aging baby boomers are now the most financially influential group in the United States. Consumer product manufacturers realize this and know many boomers, still wanting to believe they're young, are refusing to slow down and admit many things aren't what they used to be — such as performing once-routine tasks.

But Best magazine Senior Editor David Gregg

Among them:

NITE SITE

Many of us get out of bed in the middle of the night for any number of reasons. A company called BEACONS has developed a product to make it easier for people who wear glasses to maneuver in the dark. Nite Site illuminates automatically with a wave of your hand, creating a beacon of unobtrusive light. You can find your eyewear easily and safely navigate the gently lit room. The passive lighting won't hurt your eyes or disturb your family. To preserve energy, the Nite Site detects the amount of light in a room and won't activate if sufficient lighting exists. Nite Site is portable, lightweight and has no power cord, using 4-AAA batteries, which enables you to carry it from room to room. Nite Site is also very helpful when you are traveling.
Cost $29.95; levenger.com

KEY LOCATOR WHISTLE AND FLASHLIGHT

An ultrasonic chip implanted in the Key Locator Whistle and Flashlight (2½ by 5 inches) key chain unit will respond to your whistle by beeping. Follow the beep to find your keys, TV remote, portable phone or even your glasses. It also has a mini-flashlight to help you find keyholes in the dark. The receiver has a range of 15 feet. It uses two replaceable button cell batteries, which are included.
Cost $4.50; independentliving.com

PANASONIC CORDLESS TELEPHONE WITH TALKING CALLER ID (KX-TG2388B)

This cordless 2.4Ghz phone features a talking caller ID function that enables you to hear the name of the caller from the handset speakerphone. For users who have hearing problems, this phone employs bone conduction technology. That innovation enables you to hear via the headset by emitting sound vibrations against the bones of the head. Other product features include a talking keypad, hearing aid noise feature, tape-free/all-digital answering machine with 15-minute recording time, voice enhancer technology to deliver clear, easy-to-hear conversation quality, hands-free, digital circuitry in handset speakerphone to reduce echo and dropout, and a light-up antenna that flashes for incoming calls and messages.
Cost $199.99; panasonic.comBIGKEYS LX COMPUTER KEYBOARD

The purpose of this keyboard is obvious from the start; no subtlety here. The keys are almost four times bigger than the normal ones. The size of the keys seems to make the keyboard itself look larger than a standard one, but that's only an illusion. It's a full size keyboard, 7 inches by 18 inches, with 60 oversized keys. Every key is an extra large 1 inch square button with easy to read labels in large block print on bright white keys. The lettering itself is a half-inch tall. BigKeys is perfect for people challenged by dexterity, vision and arthritis-related problems.
Cost $167; bigkeys.com

e-Pill MULTI-ALARM PILLBOX

The award winning e-pill Multi-Alarm Pill Box and E-Z Set Timer will enable you to organize all the pills you take each day. It reminds you with a loud alarm, up to 37 times per day. There's no reset required because it resets automatically at midnight.
Cost $49.95; epill.com

LUMIFIER FLX HANDS-FREE LIGHT/MAGNIFIER
Here's a perfect combination of light and hands-free magnification to take care of most visually challenging tasks. The high quality optical grade 3X magnifying lens will assist with your reading, sewing, arts and crafts, fly-tying, etc. For fine detail work, use the 5X "sweet spot." The base is weighted for stability and armored in rubber for protection and a soft touch. Three super bright and cool white LED lights will last 100,000 hours. The Lumifer is powered by 4 AA batteries (not included), which deliver about 30 hours of burn time. (AC adapter sold separately.)
Cost $40.00; zelco.com

NIKON 500G LASERCADDY

How far is it to the hole? For senior golfers or any golfer, the Nikon Lasercaddy delivers precise distance readings to help you choose the right club for your next shot. Simply aim the caddy through its eyepiece at a bunker, green, or fairway, then press a button. The 500G uses an infrared laser that's harmless to the eye to calculate the distance from the object. You can even lock onto the narrow golf pin from as far as 160 yards, thanks to Nikon's advanced optics and advanced digital processing. The caddy's high-contrast LCD viewfinder includes targeting crosshairs, digital distance readout and a battery power indicator.
Cost $299.99; nikonsportoptics.com

EASE IN-EASE OUT

The Ease In-Ease Out is designed for those who have difficulty swiveling to get in and out of cars. This simple device, best described as a Lazy Susan for people, makes a hard task easy again. The 15-inch base is made of a durable plastic that won't leave indentation marks on leather seats. It also has a built-in carrying handle.
Cost $29.95; independentliving.com