Assistive Devices

What is an assistive device?

An assistive device is a tool to help you do something more easily. Such tools are used to make changes in the environment or to serve as an extension of your body. Assistive devices are used for many types of activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include:

• bathing
• dressing
• eating
• grooming
• using the toilet
• walking
• moving in and out of bed or chairs.

Some examples of assistive devices are:

• braces and devices such as artificial limbs
• wheelchairs, walkers, and canes
• tools to help reach and pick up objects, put on socks, or button clothing
• knives, forks, and spoons with larger handles
• plates with tall sides to prevent food from being pushed off
• tools that can be used with one hand
• bath chairs or grab bars in the shower and around the toilet
• large print books or magnifiers
• voice-activated computers.

Why are they needed?

Assistive devices make it possible or easier to do daily activities that are hard for you. An assistive device can also help you feel more secure. For example, a walker may help a person with balance problems to feel steadier when walking.

Why don't some people use them?

Sometimes people stop using an assistive device because they recover the ability to do a task without it. Sometimes people don't use an assistive device because:

• they have not been properly taught how to use it
• they find it hard to use
• it does not fit properly
• it causes discomfort
• they are embarrassed to use it in front of others.

How do I know if I need one?

Doctors, physical and occupational therapists, and other healthcare providers can help you decide if you need an assistive device. Tell them what daily activities are hard for you. You can get information on how to get an assessment of what devices might help you from:

• your provider's office
• hospitals
• community agencies
• home healthcare agencies
• nursing homes
• assisted-living facilities.

How do I get one?

Some devices, such as grooming and personal-care aids do not need special fitting. These may be sold or rented at pharmacies or medical supply stores, supplied by an agency providing home care, or made available when you leave the hospital.

Canes and walkers need to be adjusted to the right height for the person using them. Usually this is done by a physical therapist.

Other devices, like braces and artificial limbs, need to be specially made to fit you. Specialists, called orthotists and prosthetists, fit and make these devices after your healthcare provider or therapist recommends them. Medicare Part B will usually cover 80% of the cost if these devices are ordered by a doctor.

How do I use it?

Each kind of assistive device is different. A therapist can show you how to use the device and watch you to make sure you do it properly.

For a custom-made device, like a leg brace, you will need help in learning exactly how to put it on and use it. It is important that it fit comfortably. If you need an assistive device for getting around, like a wheelchair, it may take some practice for you to learn how to use it safely to move in and out of bed, to go to the bathroom, and to use it in other places.