Choosing the right tool for the job and adapting the tools you have can make working in and taking care of your home a lot easier. This brochure offers some suggestions on how to do just that.
As a consumer, you have the right to try things out in the store. Ask for a demonstration, and thoroughly try out the item yourself.
FLOORS: When purchasing a vacuum cleaner, think carefully about your upper body strength and don't buy a model that will be too heavy for you. As a rule, canister types are lighter than uprights; attachments to clean upholstery, drapes, blinds and corners also make them more versatile. On the other hand uprights help with balance and support. A rotating brush on the power head, though more expensive, gets down into a carpet and picks up ground-in dirt. A drawback is that the heads move independently and can get away from you.
Electric brooms may be as useful as full-size vacuum cleaners. They are lighter, less expensive, can be adapted for carpets or bare floors, and do not require vacuum cleaner bags. Practice emptying the dust compartment to make sure it is not more difficult than replacing a bag.
When buying a broom, look for one with a slant edge and feathered bristles. Wide push-brooms can provide support while sweeping. Long-handled dustpans can be bought at some stores, or insert a broom handle in the hollow handle of a regular dust pan and then angle the pan so that it lies flat to the floor. You can also purchase attachable extra handles to give better leverage and reduce bending over when using long-handled tools.
Dust mops handily clean under beds and furniture and down steps. They also offer some help with balance and support. If you use a wheelchair, the handles of mops or brooms may be too long. Cut them off; you can then attach a bicycle-grip or D-grip handle to give yourself a better grip.
DUSTING: Dust frequently ; dust combines with airborne cooking grease to make a sticky film that requires scrubbing to remove. A reaching aid holding a soft cloth can reach awkward surfaces. A dusting mitt can be modified to fit over a foot, allowing you to dust along mop boards and under cabinet edges without bending over.
To save time and energy, make or buy an apron with plenty of large pockets to carry cleaning supplies, or attach a pocketed pouch to your walker or wheelchair. A small cart on casters can also be used to move cleaning supplies from place to place; sturdier models will offer some support when walking.
WINDOWS: A lightweight, car-sized squeegee can be mounted on a broom handle. Use the sponge side with a warm water/vinegar solution to scrub windows and mirrors; then wipe clean and dry with the rubber blade.
Organization is the key to efficient, accessible storage. Most of the products referred to in this section are widely available at hardware and department stores. Be sure to take along accurate measurements and comparison shop to find the product that solves a storage problem the most effectively for the least money.
Accessible storage defined:
KITCHENS: Make the most of already accessible space, as most kitchens have a lot of awkward or unusable space. Stacking shelves or bins come in plastic or metal in many sizes, designs, and prices. Roll-out shelves can make the back of a shelf as accessible as the front.
Under-shelf containers utilize wasted space; a lazy susan gives ready access to the back of a shelf. A blank wall becomes storage with a sheet of peg board and wire hooks.
BATHROOMS: Vertical towel bars, with rings to hang towels through, take up little space and are easily reached. Hanging racks, available in many bed and bath shops, can be very useful in the tub and shower. They can be attached to a wall, the side of the tub, or the shower fixture, and can hold shampoo, soap, brushes, etc. If you take baths instead of showers, a shelf across the tub can hold bathing items.
CLOSETS: Stacking bins can create accessible storage at waist height on the floor of a closet; shelving units attached to the door can store cleaning, laundry, or kitchen supplies within easy reach. Full closet organizer "systems" are also available for $50 and up; look for a sturdy modular unit that allows you to set shelves at heights that you can reach easily. Lower the clothes bar if you use a wheelchair. Bi-fold doors will give easier access to the entire closet.
For more information on the adaptations discussed here, or for additional suggestions, please contact InfoTech.
We all feel better when we look good. If problems with weakness, coordination or paralysis make daily routines difficult, the bathroom is one room where modifications can really pay off. This brochure discusses just a few of a wide variety of adaptations and devices to make personal care and grooming routines easier.
DENTAL CARE: You can build up your toothbrush handle for easier gripping by adding a ready-made, built-up handle, a child's bicycle handle-grip, or a palm or wrist cuff, as illustrated. Foam tubing called Rubazote, available from medical suppliers, has a hollow center to insert a handle into. Extension handles, of the type used with eating utensils, can be helpful when you can't comfortably reach your mouth.
A denture brush can be attached to a sink or counter with a suction cup device. Flossing may be easier if you use a floss holder, available at most drug stores; it too can be fitted with a built-up handle. "Pump" style toothpaste dispensers are easier for some people to manipulate. A twisting key is another possibility, while a third alternative is toothpowder, which you can simply dip a wet brush into.
HAIR CARE: The handle adaptations illustrated here can be used to modify combs and brushes as well. Extension handles are particularly useful if arm or shoulder motion is limited, but your motions will lose some force due to loss of leverage. If you use a hair dryer, mount it on the wall to leave your hands free. The bracket should swivel so the dryer can blow in any direction. Hair washing is easiest in the shower; if you bathe in a tub, a hand sprayer is useful for rinsing. Pump dispensers or flip lids ease opening and closing shampoo and rinse bottles.
SKIN CARE: A soap mitt eliminates fussing with slippery bars of soap and awkward face cloths. You can buy one inexpensively, or make a simple one yourself from a small amount of terry cloth.
SHAVING: Electric razors are easier to use and safer than blades. A bracket or clamp can be rigged to hold a razor firmly to a counter or wall while you move you face against it. A Velcro strap holder can help secure the razor in your hand.
NAILS: A nail brush can be mounted on the edge of the counter or sink with suction cups. Attach a nail file or emery board to a piece of wood or tape it to the countertop to stabilize it for one-handed use. You can attach a nail clipper to a piece of plywood to give you better control, or increase the leverage by lengthening the handle as shown in the illustration. Larger clippers for trimming toe nails, available at most drug stores, may be easier to manipulate for fingernails, too.
Safety is the first consideration. Safety treads or rubber mats on the bottom of tubs and showers are simple and inexpensive. Test and adjust water temperature before stepping into a bath or shower. Set water heaters below 120 degrees, and ask others not to run water elsewhere in the house to prevent temperature fluctuations. For extra protection, pressure balances to prevent surges of hot or cold water are available from plumbing supply stores.
Hand rails that clamp to the side of the bathtub and gripping bars for tub and shower walls can be purchased from medical suppliers.
Organize items that you'll need before you get in the tub or shower. If you use a reaching aid, put it near the tub. A shelf across the tub keeps useful items near at hand and offers another surface to steady yourself against.
Bath brushes with long handles are useful for scrubbing various hard-to-reach places; handles can be built up or bent to improve your control.
Another way to scrub your back is to attach a piece of terry cloth, sponge or loofah to a strip of study fabric or plastic to pull from side to side. These scrubbers are available for sale at medical supply stores, but you could easily make your own.
There are many adaptations, small or large, inexpensive or quite costly, that can make getting around in your bathroom easier. For more information on the adaptations discussed here or additional suggestions, please contact InfoTech.
Eating a healthful, well-prepared meal can be one of life's great pleasures. If you have difficulties handling food preparation tools or silverware, this brochure may provide helpful information on aids and adaptations to use in the kitchen and dining room.
Cutting, peeling and chopping: Cutting boards can be bought or made with stainless steel nails pointing up to hold meat, fruits, vegetables, cheese, etc., for one-handed cutting or peeling. Some have a raised angle for buttering bread. A peeler mounted on a clamp can be attached to a table top or a cutting board; the apple, carrot or potato can be pushed or pulled across the blade with one hand. A hardwood chopping bowl comes with a five-bladed chopper and features a non-tip plastic base, at some medical/surgical supply stores. Also available is a grater with suction feet and a bin to hold grated food.
Opening and closing containers: An electric can opener can prevent a lot of frustration. Make sure the one you buy has non-slip rubber feet and a mechanism that can open any shape of can. Jar openers also come in many designs and are widely available. Boxes can be slit open with a knife and closed with a piece of masking tape or a rubber band. Plastic bags can be resealed with a rubber band or clothes pin by twisting the bag shut and tucking the twisted end under the rubber band.
Mixing and beating: Bowls should be heavy enough to prevent sliding; a rubber ring on the base, a Dycem mat (from a medical/surgical supplier) or even a damp cloth can help. Bowls with handles are widely available. A hole cut in a piece of plywood or hardwood set over a drawer or sink will help steady a bowl while you use it, increasing your counter space at the same time. If the bowl is flush with the board's surface, you can easily push ingredients into the bowl as they are prepared.
Blenders, electric mixers, and food processors can be a big help; if you buy one, make sure the features are useful for your particular cooking needs, and that you can operate the controls.
Cooking: To hold a pot or pan steady while you stir, try a wire frame attached to the stove with suction cups, available from medical supply stores. You can also push the handle against the back of the stove or another pot to stabilize it. The lightest, easiest-to-manipulate pots are made from aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. These metals are also good conductors, so they heat and cool quickly; you will need to stir more frequently with light-weight pots.
Casserole dishes and oven-to-table ware or ceramic, porcelain, Corningware, and tempered glass come in all sizes and weights. They're heavy, but designed to look good on the table, which means less transferring of food from one container to another.
Handles and knobs: Make sure the shape and size of handles and knobs are well-suited to the strength and flexibility of your grip. A long handle lets you brace against your wrist or arm, or use both hands, and also makes reaching a back burner easier. Handles on both sides of a pan distribute weight more evenly, but are sometimes smaller, and require two hands with good coordination. A clip-on handle, available where camping supplies are sold, can function as an extra grip for a heavy or awkward pot.
Lids should have a knob that won't slip out or your grip. You'll find replacement knobs at hardware stores. If you use a reaching aid, choose a knob that works well with your aid. Any part of a pot that you touch should be well-insulated. Plastic and wood are the safest materials; solid and hollow-core metal handles will heat up eventually and could cause a burn.
A tipping platform can make handling a teapot easier and safer.
For frying bacon and thinly sliced foods, a cast aluminum fryer sits on top of the food, reflecting heat downward, so that it cooks without turning or stirring. A drainer/strainer that clamps over the pot is also a good idea. Oven mitts are essential when working with hot things; you can also use a reaching aid for some jobs. A commercial pizza shovel makes a good reacher to pull hot dishes out of the oven.
Place heat-proof pads around the kitchen and use them as resting stops when carrying heavy, hot items over long distances. If you use a wheelchair, use a heat-proof lapboard or wheelchair tray so that you can use both hands for traveling.
Attractive table settings brighten mealtime and enhance the appreciation of good food. A variety of specially designed plates, dishes, cups, glasses and silverware are described here: you may find other designs in catalogs from the manufacturers of independent living aids.
Several manufacturers have designed plates with a curved inner wall and a slightly raised outer rim to help guide food onto your fork or spoon. A heavier plate prevents slipping and retains heat longer. Other options include: a non-slip scoop dish, which makes it even easier to push food onto your spoon; a partitioned plate; and dishes with high sides around all or part of the circumference. Available in ceramic or Melamine at medical/surgical supply stores.
A pedestal cup has been designed to make drinking easier for people with a weak grip. A lidded cup reduces spills and controls the flow of liquid; this design is particularly useful for people in bed.
Look for these features in a cup:
Products are also available to adapt your own tableware: a plate guard in plastic or metal to help guide food onto your fork or spoon; non-slip matting (Dycem, available at medical supply stores) to keep plates for sliding around; handles or wide bases to add to glasses or mugs for better stability; angled or bendable straws which permit drinking from a regular glass while lying in bed.
Silverware: Specially designed knives, forks, and spoons described here can be found at medical supply stores and some "gourmet" kitchen shops. They have been designed to help you overcome the problems of weak grip, lack of flexibility, limited range of motion, and poor coordination.
A built-up handle makes it easier to grasp eating utensils. The simplest way to do this is to buy a length of Rubazote at a medical supply store; this is foam-rubber tubing that comes with a variety of bore dimensions to fit a range of handle sizes. Or, you can use a child's bicycle handle-grip, as shown in the illustration. Several manufacturers make cutlery with square, round oval, or built-up handles of varying lengths in light, standard, or heavy weights. Shop around to find which version is best for you. If you have trouble moving your wrist, fingers, or arm, try a fork or spoon with a swivel or self-leveling mechanism.
Extension spoons and forks to assist with limited range of motion can be set at any angle.
Also available are utensils designed to be attached to the palm rather than gripped by the fingers; the angle can be adjusted to compensate for lack of range of motion. Speaking of angles, you can buy "bent" or offset forks and spoons angled left or right in a variety of shapes. Knives come with straight or curved blades, either smooth or serrated, for easier cutting. A person with one hand can cut food easily by rocking a Nelson knife back and forth across the food. Another suggestion: an ordinary pizza cutter can be sharpened and used as a one-handed food cutter. Combination utensils are convenient if you don't use both hands, or if coordination is a problem. Known as "knoons," "knorks," and "sporks," they come in several different designs and weights, some with built-up handles.
Many of the items discussed here are available in kitchen or hardware stores. For more information on the adaptations discussed here or for additional suggestions, please contact InfoTech.
The freedom to move from place to place in your home and out in the community is critical to independence. If you have problems with movement, balance or coordination, there are a number of devices that may help you get around and accomplish everyday activities. This brochure includes information on devices to help with reaching, lifting, and walking.
Pushing, pulling, grasping, and turning are movements that can be easier for you with a reaching aid. The models shown here have been designed to cover a wide range of activities and will help people with a weak or painful grip, or a limited range of motion.
The most common reachers consist of a pair of jaws controlled by a trigger mechanism. Made of lightweight aluminum and plastic, they are available in a variety of sizes and lengths. The desk-sized model, about 24" long, is useful for retrieving objects on your desk, kitchen counter, or bedside table. A mid-range length, about 28" long, is useful for everyday activities such as picking up objects from the floor or reaching high storage areas. An extra-long model (32") is also available if you need extended reach. Features you'll find useful include a magnet for catching and holding metal objects, and a projecting lug for pulling things toward you. Folding styles and reachers with toggle (rather than trigger) closing action, swivel heads, or forearm extension are also available.
Prices vary widely, depending on the size and features. Reachers are generally available at most medical supply stores.
Mobility can be complicated by many factors, such as pain and weakness in the legs or back, uncertain balance or dizziness, muscular tremors or spasms, or paralysis. There are a variety of changes in your environment, as well as canes and walkers, that can enhance your mobility in and out of your home.
Although canes can be purchased at many drugstores, you should consult with your doctor if you are having frequent or pronounced periods of weakness, dizziness, or poor coordination.
Consider the following factors in selecting a cane:
Other options available include a loop on the handle of the cane, to free your hands for other activities, and a fold-down ice gripping tip, which can be attached to the side of the cane.
The walker is particularly useful for individuals with balance problems since it affords support through both arms at a fixed distance. Walkers come in a wide range of heights and weights, with a variety of handle styles. Ask your doctor or physical therapist for help in making a selection.
Grab bars make the most of your strength by giving you extra support when and where you need it, such as climbing in and out of the bathtub, your bed, or negotiating a flight of stairs.
A grab bar looks like a towel rack, but that's where the similarity ends. A grab bar is designed to be strong enough to support your weight and more. Flanges on the ends of the bar have sturdy screws for installation, preferably into wall studs. There is room between the bar and the wall for you to get a good grip, and the diameter of the bar will feel solid in you hand. Made of plastic or rust-resistant metal, the bar may have a rough surface to prevent slipping. Many shapes and sizes are available for different uses; most are wall-mounted, but some attach to the edge of your bathtub.
Some considerations in selecting a grab bar:
Some shapes and sizes of grab bars are illustrated here. They can be purchased at plumbing supply outlets, some department and hardware stores, and at medical/surgical supply stores. If you can't find one to suit your needs, some companies will custom design a bar for a somewhat higher price. Alternatively, you may be able to combine standard bars in sequence to give you the support you need.
For more information on mobility aids, please contact InfoTech.
Everyone of us has fumbled with a button. But stiffness, pain, weakness, or paralysis can make dressing and undressing particularly difficult. This pamphlet provides information on types of clothing and simple adaptations, devices, and methods to make dressing and undressing easier.
Roomy, stretchy clothes with simple fastenings are your best bet. For ease and comfort, choose clothing with:
Remember: Buttons require the most movement and coordination; snaps or dome fasteners are easier. Zippers are faster and easier still, and simplest of all are Velcro strips.
Wheelchair-users should avoid long ties or scarves, full-length coats, wide pant legs, or floppy sleeves, which can catch in wheel spokes or pick up dirt from the tires.
Wrap-around skirts are particularly fast and easy to put on, and allow women in wheelchairs extra movement. Choose a shawl rather than a sweater for extra warmth.
Jackets with side (not rear) vents are less likely to ride up. Pre-tied, clip-on ties are available in attractive patterns for a dressier look. Avoid using pants pockets; keep your wallet in a breast pocket, secured with a strip of Velcro.
If you use crutches, a top with too much roominess can cause bunching or binding under the arms. On the other hand, tight shirts or blouses restrict arm and shoulder movement, leading to balance problems and split seams.
A customized apron of pockets designed for tools or items that you use most frequently may make work or hobby activities easier and more enjoyable.
Look for warm, waterproof designs that can bridge seasons, with the same design features--deep armholes or raglan sleeves, roominess--as indoor clothing.
A hooded poncho or cape is particularly suitable for protecting a wheelchair user from rain and cold, and can be purchased at camping supply stores. If you design your own, cut it just below waist level at the back and allow enough front length to drape over the knees. Taper the sides, so they won't bunch and catch in the wheels. A zip-in insulated lining can make a rain cape into a cold-weather garment.
A hat is essential in winter since so much body heat escapes from an uncovered head, and older persons may be especially susceptible to chilling. A well-designed winter hat covers the ears, is made of a natural fiber with good insulating properties, and is not tight. If gloves are difficult for you to wear, try mittens instead. They're warmer, much easier to get on and off, and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. A thumb-less version is especially warm and easy to get on and off, and can be knitted by a friend.
Here are some ideas for accessible footwear:
Inexpensive removable cleats attached to shoes or boots can improve your walking control on ice or snow. These can be purchased from a medical supply store.
When it comes to the actual process of dressing and undressing, dressing aids can make these activities easier.
A well-designed aid should be lightweight but sturdy, and will:
A very simple dressing aid can be made by attaching a clothes peg, hook, garter, or clamp to a piece of fabric tape, rope, or length or wood. The rope or tape can be tied into loops for easier handling; two aids can be used together to pull on slacks, pantyhose, or a skirt. An instant dressing aid can be improvised from a wire coat hanger by bending the triangular form into a long, thin handle, use the hook to reach, pull, or zip.
Sew small loops inside your clothes; catch them with the hook of your dressing aid to pull them toward you and to pull them on. Use belt loops on skirts or slacks, and buttonholes on shirts, blouses, and sweaters. If you own a reaching aid, you've probably already used it as a dressing aid. Most reachers have jaws or a projecting hook or lug for catching articles and retrieving them. You can find commercial dressing aids at most medical supply stores.
Once the garment is on, you'll need to fasten it. Buttons can be dealt with easily with a button hook, available in many sizes, with a variety of handles. Push the hook through the buttonhole, catch the button in the hook, and pull it through.
Attach a ring or loop to the zipper on slacks or jackets to make it easier to catch with your finger or the hook of a dressing stick. For back zippers, use a dressing stick if you can reach the zipper; otherwise attach a hook with a cord as shown in the illustration (before putting on the garment, if you can't reach behind), then grasp the cord or ring and pull the zipper.
A simple shoe horn can be your best friend when it comes to putting on shoes and boots, whether laced, buckled, or slip-on. Shop for a long-handled model to reduce bending and straining; check that the point where the horn joins the handle is sturdy, particularly if you use if for heavy shoes or boots. The handle can be built up if you find it hard or painful to grip. Push your shoe up against the wall or a solid piece of furniture for stability when putting it on.
Removing shoes and boots can also be difficult, but a bootjack can be a great help. Place your heel between the prongs of the bootjack, and pull your foot out. A bootjack can be fasted to the floor in a convenient location or left free to be moved where needed. Or use the rung of a chair or stool to catch the heel when removing footwear.
A number of manufacturers sell clothing and aids for people with special needs. For additional information on how to locate or fabricate the adaptations discussed here, for other suggestions, or to request catalog information, please contact InfoTech.
Text is adapted, with permission, from an Independent Living brochure series produced by the Health and Welfare Department of Canada.
For a printed copy of these brochures, including illustrations mentioned above, please contact InfoTech.
IPAT is supported by grants from the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education. This material does not necessarily reflect the views of NIDRR/ED or indicate official endorsement of its contents.
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