Assistive devices for activities of daily living

Definitions & Key takeaways

There are many different types of assistive devices that can help people with activities of daily living. These devices can range from simple tools like canes and crutches to more complex machines like walkers. Some common examples of assistive devices include: Canes: these are perhaps the most basic type of assistive device. They provide support and stability for those who have difficulty walking or balance issues. Crutches: like canes, crutches provide support and stability for those who have difficulty walking or balance issues. Crutches are usually more suitable for those who have more significant mobility issues than canes. Wheelchairs: these provide mobility for those who cannot walk or who have difficulty walking. There are many different types of wheelchairs available, from manual to electric. Walkers: These are devices with four legs, with or without wheels, which help people stand and walk with more stability. They are prescribed to people who can bear weight but are relatively and physically weak.

Chapters:

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Introduction0:00–0:32

Assistive devices for activities of daily living are devices that are made or adapted to help a person perform actions and tasks such as walking, grooming, dressing, eating, and drinking.
Also, they represent an important part of a client’s life because they boost their self-esteem by aiding them in regaining independence.
Let’s start with assistive devices for walking, which are also called ambulatory assistive devices or mobility aids. There are three major groups of mobility aids, which include canes, crutches, and walkers.

Assistive devices for walking0:32–1:45

Canes are made of plastic, wood, or aluminum, and they can have a straight or half circle handle. Canes are prescribed to increase stability in individuals that can bear weight but are unstable or too weak on one side of the body.
Next, we have crutches, which can be axillary or forearm crutches. Axillary crutches are made of wood or aluminum, and they are characterized by axillary bars; while forearm crutches are made of aluminum, and they are characterized by forearm cuffs.
These devices are prescribed to increase stability but also to partially or fully reduce the weight bearing on a lower limb.
Finally, we have walkers. These devices have an aluminum framework and four legs, with or without wheels.
Walkers afford the greatest stability; therefore, they are prescribed to individuals that can bear weight but are weak or unstable!
Finally, most assistive devices made of aluminum have a push-button mechanism, which enables their adjustment to a client’s height.
Next, we have assistive devices for personal hygiene such as combs, brushes, and toothbrushes. These devices can be modified to have built-up handles.

Hygiene1:45–2:10

Built-up handles make grasping easier, which is perfect for people with reduced grip strength. Additionally, combs and brushes can also be designed to have long handles, which allows users to reach their hair without having to lift their arms above the head.
Switching gears and moving on to assistive devices for dressing, such as buttonholer, dressing stick, and long-handled shoehorn.

Dressing2:10–2:44

A buttonholer helps a person to button or unbutton their clothes. If a person has difficulty using a buttonholer, they can replace their regular buttons with velcro fasteners.
Next, we have a dressing stick, which is great for assisting a person in taking off or putting on their clothes. Finally, we have a long-handled shoe horn, which is commonly used by clients who have difficulty bending and putting their shoes on, such as individuals with back or hip injury.Moving on to assistive devices for eating and drinking.

Eating and drinking2:44–3:39

These include plate guards, cup holders, and modified utensils. A plate guard is a removable device that clips onto a plate and prevents food from being pushed off.
It also provides support for placing food onto the fork. Cup holders, as their name implies, enable a person to hold a cup and make the drinking process easier.
A straw is another inexpensive and common assistive device that can help people drink. Next up are utensils.
Just like assistive devices for grooming, utensils can have built-up handles to accommodate weak grasp.Other modifications of utensils include a knife with a round blade and a swivel spoon.
The knife with a round blade enables a person to cut food with only one hand using a rocking motion; while the swivel spoon prevents spills in clients with hand tremors.All right, as a quick recap… Assistive devices for walking include canes, crutches, and walkers; while the most common assistive devices for personal hygiene include combs, brushes, and toothbrushes.

Recap3:39–4:09

On the other hand, the most common assistive devices for dressing are buttonholer, dressing stick, and long-handled shoe horn.
Finally, we have assistive devices for eating and drinking, such as plate guards, cup holders,