10 tools that make tasks easier if you have limited mobility
The stuff you need when mobility issues or hand weakness make daily tasks a challenge
Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar / Vive
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Maybe you’re recovering from surgery, dealing with an injury, or have become less mobile than you once were (or you're caring for someone for whom those things are true). No matter what, it’s possible that things you once took for granted—like picking things up off the floor, putting on shoes, or washing your hair—require more effort than you feel they should. Fortunately, many of these tasks can be made simpler with the right tools.
1. A way to extend your reach
This tool helps you extend your grasp.
If bending down and picking things up presents a challenge, a grabber-reacher tool is a must. You can use this long-handled rod as an extension for your arms, with its trigger-controlled, claw-like gripper standing in for hands to snag items from the ground, or from cabinets above. Reviewers love this one from Vive, which has small suction cups on the tips to make grasping easier, and a handle that responds quickly and easily to a light squeeze.
“It's the best thing ever,” writes a reviewer. “I just had a hysterectomy and am unable to do a ton of things. I originally got this for myself as a half joke/half serious. I now realize how valuable it's been to me. The suction-cup things are wonderful because it gives you the ability to pick up difficult things like charging cords.”
Get the Vive Grabber Reacher on Amazon for $18.99
2. A scalp massager to make washing your hair easier
This shampoo brush prevents hand strain and gives your scalp a good scrub.
At first glance, this funky-looking appliance may not seem like an accessibility tool. But reviewers say that the brush, which is used to massage shampoo into the scalp, prevents hand fatigue. And its soft rubber bristles work shampoo deep into the root to provide a more thorough wash, so you don’t have to wash your hair as often. Bonus: It feels awesome to use.
“If your hands get tired while trying to massage your shampoo thoroughly into your hair, this is a lifesaver,” writes a reviewer. “Easy and comfortable to hold, it does not pull the hair and it gives a nice little scalp massage that feels great after a long day at work!”
Get the MaxSoft Shampoo Massager on Amazon for $7.98
3. A raised toilet seat to make squatting less of an effort
Raising the toilet seat makes sitting on it easier.
Many people install seat risers to help with settling onto and standing up from the toilet. A simple option is this one from Aquasense, which adds four inches of height to the toilet. Reviewers like its ease of use—all you have to do is place it on the toilet rim, no clamps or bolts required—and its lightweight polyethylene material, which makes it easy to lift it off to clean or stow away when not in use.
“I have rheumatoid arthritis and my knees are pretty bad,” writes a reviewer. “[The seat] fits securely, doesn't wobble, and makes my life so much easier. The best part is, when I have company I can just hide it in the shower. Comfortable and easy to clean. I am only 53 and am not ready to install a permanent riser, so this is perfect for me.”
If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), a pre-tax account used for eligible medical expenses, you can use it to buy a toilet lift with arms from the FSA store.
Get the AquaSense Portable Raised Toilet Seat on Amazon for $16.46
Get the Guardian Locking Toilet Lift from the FSA store for $49.99
4. A jar opener to get an effortless grip
With this device, jar lids come off in a snap.
Opening a jar can be tough for anyone on any given day. And if opening jars is an everyday struggle for you, you may want to install a jar opener, like the top-rated EZ-Off opener, to help you with the job. Reviewers say it removes lids with a twist and tucks into a shelf or beneath a cabinet, so it doesn’t take up any storage space and is a no-brainer to find.
“You might not know it, but you want this,” writes a reviewer. “I bought this for my father-in-law and I fell in love with this thing and ordered myself one. It's so easy to use, it's crazy. I put it under an overhead cabinet and he slides a jar in with both hands and the lid pops right off no matter how hard it's stuck on.”
Get the EZ Off Jar Opener on Amazon for $13.69
5. An electric can opener that prevents jagged edges
Skip the hassle of opening cans with this electric can opener.
Why fuss with a manual can opener when an electric one makes quick, clean work of meal prep? We tested a bunch of electric can openers and landed on the Cuisinart Deluxe as our top choice, thanks to its precise blades that leave no rough edges, splatter-proof lid removal, and overall ease of use.
Amazon reviewers agree. Writes one: “I have terrible arthritis and have tried many other openers. This one is amazingly easy to operate. Once you place the can, just lower the lever and the can opens by itself. I would suggest to the company to advertise to people with arthritis because it sure makes my life a whole lot easier! Lightweight and easy to clean as well.”
Get the Cuisinart Deluxe Electric Can Opener on Amazon for $16.19
6. A food processor to save time in the kitchen
Remove a few food prep steps with a food processor.
Love cooking, but not the chopping, dicing, and various precision knife skills that go along with it? Consider investing in a food processor, which does all the cutting for you in a matter of seconds. We’ve tested a lot of food processors and love the Cuisinart “Custom 14” the most. In our tests, it sliced veggies and shredded cheese without requiring any pre-chopping before putting it in the chute. It’s also easy to use and clean—all you have to do is stick it in the dishwasher.
Get the Cuisinart Custom 14 on Amazon for $148.28
7. A zipper puller to speed up your morning routine
Grabbing buttons and zippers is much easier with this tool.
Fussy zippers and buttons can provide unexpected obstacles. A handheld helper tool like this one uses a wire hook to grip onto slippery buttons and tiny zipper pulls to make it a cinch to get into that dress shirt, close your coat, or change pillow shams. It has a wide rubber handle, which provides a comfortable grip.
“I purchased this button hook for my 85-year-old mother who lives alone and could no longer handle the buttons on her blouses,” writes a reviewer. “The handle has a perfect grip for her arthritic hands and she now uses it daily.”
Get the Vive Button and Zipper Hook on Amazon for $7.99
8. Shoe horns to up your footwear game
Slide shoes on and off with ease with this shoe horn.
No need to stop wearing your favorite shoes because they’re annoying to get on. At 16.5 inches long, this shoehorn allows you to slide on shoes while sitting or standing. It also has a wide, comfortable grip and sleek design that reviewers love. It’s sold in a set of two, so you can keep one in your bedroom and one by the door, keep one for yourself and give the other away, or just have a spare in case you lose one.
“I bought the two-pack so that I could give one to my 90-year-old mother who has trouble bending to put on shoes,” writes a reviewer. “She started using it right away and remarked about how easy it was. I am using the other one and find it very useful. The coated, curved handle is very easy to use without slipping out of your hand.”
Get the Velette Metal Shoehorn on Amazon for $7.50
9. Faucet grips to make twisting and turning less arduous
If twisting handles is tough for you, these faucet mitts might help.
Sometimes, twisting a faucet on and off is a real nuisance—particularly if the sink is outside or in the basement (where cold temps can make hands feel stiff) or has spindly, hard-to-grasp handles. One way to make it easier is with faucet-handle covers, like these “mitts,” which snap on to provide a better grip.
“Great for people with arthritis,” writes a reviewer. “My husband turns handles so tight I usually can't turn them back on. But I can with these. No pain!”
Get Superior Tool Faucet Mitts on Amazon for $5.77
10. An Amazon Echo for your own in-home assistant
Get a personal helper in the form of an Echo.
Feel like you might benefit from having a virtual assistant, but not quite sure where to start? Try the Amazon Echo Show 5. This is one of our favorite Alexa devices, thanks to its small but clear video screen. This, plus its ability to take voice commands, allows for hands-free video calls, music, video, and audiobook streaming, and check-ins on video doorbells and smart security cameras. You can also use it to set reminders for appointments and to take medication by talking to it instead of fiddling around with the alarm on your phone.