When walking or using your hands becomes difficult, the right assistive device can take a lot of the risk and the frustration out of daily life. Many people put it off, though, treating the use of a device as “proof the disease has got worse” — when in fact starting early, as soon as you need one, helps prevent falls and injuries and keeps you living independently for longer. What matters is choosing something suited to your own situation rather than picking up any device at all.
A cane with a wider base is more stable
A quad cane, whose base spreads out in four directions where it meets the floor, is more stable for balance than a standard single-tip cane. An ergonomic grip that puts less strain on your wrist is more comfortable. There are also canes that vibrate rhythmically to set the beat of your steps, so if your walking is irregular or freezes often, you can ask a physical therapist about this kind of product.
With walkers, check the weight and the laser feature
With a wheeled walker (a rollator), a model with some weight to it often gives more stable support. There are also walkers that project a laser line onto the floor to show you the target for your next step, which automatically creates the visual cue described in When your feet freeze mid-step with every step you take.
For hand tremor, start with your eating utensils
If your hands shake at mealtimes and you spill food or struggle to eat, spoons and forks with thick, weighted handles are a good place to start. The weight reduces how far the hand shakes. It is worth knowing, though, that these weighted utensils help with mild to moderate tremor, but where tremor is severe or the arm is very stiff, the weight can make moving harder rather than easier — you may have to try one and look for another approach if it doesn’t fit. For more severe tremor, there are also utensils that use sensors to detect the shaking of the hand and cancel it out in real time. A non-slip mat that keeps the plate from sliding, and a plate with a raised rim that stops food being pushed over the edge, also make eating much easier.
You can add grab bars in the bathroom too
Installing a grab bar beside the toilet, or using a raised toilet seat, makes sitting down and standing up far easier. If bending your knees or your back is difficult, raising the toilet by even an inch or two takes a lot of the effort out of standing.
Consider dressing and writing aids as well
The buttonhooks, zipper pulls and thick pens covered in Dressing and bathing and When your handwriting gets smaller are, broadly speaking, the same kind of assistive device. Rather than thinking about each one separately, it is more efficient to write down the moments in your day that are difficult, one by one, and then look for the device that matches each.
Often the people around you notice the need first
You may not feel much difficulty yet while the people watching from beside you spot the risky moments first. Noting down specific scenes — “nearly fell”, “meals keep taking longer” — gives you persuasive grounds when you ask for an occupational therapy referral at your next appointment. That said, presenting several devices at once can feel overwhelming, so it is better to suggest them one at a time, starting with whatever is causing the most difficulty.
Decide what fits you together with a professional
There are all sorts of assistive devices out there, but you don’t need all of them, and what works well differs from person to person. If you describe to an occupational therapist or physical therapist exactly which moments in your day are hardest, they can set priorities and recommend the devices you need first. Coverage for assistive devices varies, so ask your insurer or an occupational therapist what applies to you.
This article is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Decide which assistive devices you need in consultation with an occupational therapist or physical therapist.
