Overview

An assistive device is a tool or piece of equipment that helps make a task easier. Some of these tools can help when pain and stiffness make it hard for you to do your daily tasks. For example, you may find it hard to button a shirt or to open and close a door. Or it may be hard to go up and down stairs or get in and out of a chair.

These tools include:

• Canes, knee scooters, and crutches.
• Walkers, including those with a seat to let you rest when you walk longer distances.
• Braces, splints, and other orthotics.
• Stable chairs or stools so you can stay seated while working in a kitchen or other work area.
• Attachments for doorknobs, like a doorknob extender that changes a doorknob to a handle (lever) so you can open doors more easily and without twisting the doorknob.
• Elevated toilet seats. (Install grab bars near the toilet.)
• Moulded or padded handles on objects like keys or kitchen gadgets to make it easier to grasp and hold objects.
• Velcro fasteners on clothes and shoes to replace buttons and laces.
• Electrical appliances, such as can openers, that can help you avoid twisting movements.
• Long-handled shoe horns, grabbers, or reachers so you don't need to bend down to pick up objects or do certain tasks, like putting on your shoes.