Assistive devices are tools that help you do everyday tasks and activities more easily. They are used for many types of activities of daily living (ADLs), including:
Some examples of assistive devices are:
Assistive devices help you do daily activities that are hard for you. They can also help you feel more secure. For example, if you are having problems with balance, a walker can help you feel steadier when you walk.
Sometimes people do not use an assistive device even though it could be helpful because:
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 learn about devices that might help you from:
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 given to you when you leave the hospital.
If you get a cane or walker, it needs to be adjusted to the right height for you. Usually this is done by a physical therapist.
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.
Some devices are very expensive. Most private health insurance companies, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage plans require prior authorization before paying for these devices. Be sure to check with your health plan before getting a device.
A therapist can show you how to use a device and watch you to make sure you use it correctly.
If you have a custom-made device, like a leg brace, you will be taught how to put it on and use it.
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 get in and out of bed, to go to the bathroom, and to use it in other places.
If you have a device that isn’t helping you, talk to your healthcare provider or to the therapists or device fitters (orthotists) who helped you when you got the device. Adjustments may be needed, and retraining on how to use the device can be very helpful.
Research is bringing engineering and robotics into the design of assistive devices. Some artificial limbs can pick up nerve impulses. The person using them can learn to send very precise signals to the artificial limb. The trade-off for a complex “myo-electric†artificial limb is that a much longer time in training is needed to learn to use the limb.
