|  | Conditions Treatments | Disabilities

Items to Help the Handicapped

Aids for daily living are assistive devices that help people with handicaps successfully and safely get through their daily lives as independently as possible. These items enable people with physical challenges to function more easily, effectively and enjoyably at home. According to Handicapped Aids, "... with the assistance of handicap appliances a reasonably positive level of independence can be maintained regardless of the disability."

  1. Bath and Toilet Aids

    • Safely use the bathroom facility in your home by installing suction cup or bathtub safety handles. Include a chair that fits into the shower or bathtub and a handheld shower head to allow independent and safe bathing. While bathing, use long-handled hair washer brushes, scrub brushes and sponge bathing devices. Choose a raised toilet seat with safety bars on either side for increased balance when rising from or sitting on the toilet.

    Bedroom Comfort and Safety

    • Attach a bed rail between the mattress and box spring to help prevent falling out of bed and to use as support for transfers in and out of bed. While in bed, employ a pull-up assist to help with sitting up in bed and a leg lifter to assist in pulling your legs up to change positions.

    Dressing and Grooming

    • Put socks on without needing to bend over by using a sock aid with easy-pull handles. A dressing stick is a dowel with an S-curve on one end and a hook on the other to assist with pushing and pulling while dressing. Turn the difficult task of buttoning to an achievable task with a button hook which slides through the button hole, grabs the button and pulls the button through the button hole. Also, a long-handled shoe horn helps to slide on shoes without bending.

    Kitchen

    • Prepare food with only one hand with the Swedish cutting board or bread spread board. Both feature guards to hold food in place. Jars, cans and bottles are easier to open with an ergonomic tab grabber and bottle opener. Use a large-handled peeler or knife to feel safe when cutting or a mini chopper that has a safety lock and is easily used with one hand.

    Eating

    • Keep a sure grip on utensils with built up handles and a bendable shaft that adjust to your individual needs. Make using a knife easier and safer with a rocking "T" or Swedish bread knife. For drinking, use a mug with two handles to provide a secure grip or a nose cut-out glass so there is no need to tilt your head back. Keep dishes securely in one place with non-slip rubber placemats and keep food on the plate with a food guard that can be used at home or at a restaurant.

Disabilities - Related Articles