Assistive Devices for Arthritis: 12 Tools to Make Daily Tasks Easier

Arthritis can turn ordinary tasks into frustrating challenges. Opening a jar, fastening a shirt, preparing food, getting in and out of the shower, or walking across a room may require more effort when joints are painful, stiff, weak, or difficult to move.

Assistive devices for arthritis are designed to make those activities easier. Some increase leverage so you do not need to grip as tightly. Others extend your reach, reduce bending, provide support, or make handles easier to hold.

The right device does not have to be complicated or expensive. In many cases, a simple jar opener, built-up handle, key turner, or long-handled tool may solve a specific problem.

But not every arthritis gadget is useful for every person. The best approach is to identify which task is difficult, which joint is causing the problem, and whether the device actually reduces effort without creating strain somewhere else.

This guide covers 12 practical daily living aids for arthritis, what each one may help with, how to choose equipment more carefully, and when an occupational therapist or other healthcare professional may be useful.

What Are Assistive Devices for Arthritis?

Assistive devices are tools, equipment, or adaptations that help a person perform activities more comfortably, safely, or independently.

For someone with arthritis, that might mean using a larger handle instead of tightly pinching a thin one, using leverage to open a container, extending reach instead of repeatedly bending, or using a walking aid when lower-limb arthritis makes mobility difficult.

The Arthritis Foundation describes self-help arthritis devices such as jar openers, reachers, easy-grip utensils, dressing aids, bathroom equipment, and other adaptations that can make everyday activities easier.

These tools do not treat the underlying arthritis. Their role is practical: reduce unnecessary effort, modify a difficult task, support independence, or make an activity more manageable.

How to Choose the Right Arthritis Aid

Buying the first product labelled “ergonomic” is not necessarily the best strategy. A useful device should solve a specific problem and feel easier to use than the activity it replaces.

Start With the Task That Is Difficult

Instead of asking, “What arthritis gadgets should I buy?” ask:

• Which activity causes pain or takes too much effort?
• Is gripping, twisting, reaching, bending, standing, or walking the main problem?
• Which joint is limiting the activity?
• Does the difficulty happen every day or mainly during worse symptom periods?

This helps narrow the choice to equipment you are actually likely to use.

Consider Which Joint Is Affected

A tool that helps painful thumb joints may be very different from equipment needed for knee or hip arthritis.

For example, someone with thumb joint pain when gripping may benefit from reducing forceful pinching and twisting, whereas someone whose knee arthritis limits walking may need an entirely different mobility strategy.

Look for Larger Grips and Better Leverage

Thin handles often require more precise and forceful gripping. Increasing handle diameter can reduce how tightly the fingers need to close around an object.

Likewise, a longer lever can make some turning tasks easier because less hand force may be required.

Hospital for Special Surgery discusses larger handles and better leverage as common joint-protection principles for people whose hands are affected by arthritis.

Make Sure the Device Does Not Create a New Problem

A poorly chosen aid may reduce strain in one joint but shift excessive effort elsewhere.

For example, a heavy kitchen device might reduce finger gripping but become difficult for someone with shoulder pain. A walking aid that is the wrong height can also alter posture or feel awkward to use.

A useful question is: Does this device genuinely make the task easier, or does it simply move the difficulty somewhere else?

Try Equipment Before Buying When Possible

Comfort, hand size, strength, balance, home layout, and arthritis pattern differ between people. When possible, trying a device before committing to it can help determine whether it actually solves the problem.

An occupational therapist can also recommend adaptations based on the specific activity you are struggling with rather than simply giving you a generic list of products.

12 Assistive Devices for Arthritis That May Make Daily Tasks Easier

1. Jar and Bottle Openers

Opening jars and bottles often requires a combination of strong grip, thumb pressure, and twisting. That can be uncomfortable when arthritis affects the fingers, thumbs, or wrists.

Rubber gripping pads, fixed jar openers, lever-style openers, and multi-purpose bottle-opening tools can increase grip or leverage so less force is required.

Look for an opener that is simple to position and does not require more hand strength than opening the container normally.

2. Wide-Grip Utensils

Forks, spoons, knives, pens, toothbrushes, and other thin-handled objects can require a sustained small grip.

Built-up or wide-grip handles increase the diameter of the object, which may make it easier to hold with less tight finger flexion.

Some people use specially designed utensils, while others use removable foam or rubber grip sleeves that fit over ordinary handles.

The goal is less forceful gripping, not simply buying a product labelled for arthritis.

3. Electric Can Openers and Food-Preparation Aids

Cooking can involve repeated twisting, cutting, gripping, lifting, and holding.

An electric can opener can remove one forceful hand task. Other useful kitchen adaptations may include lightweight cookware, non-slip mats, easy-grip peelers, food processors, or cutting boards designed to hold food more securely.

The Arthritis Foundation includes electric can openers and adapted kitchen tools among examples of equipment that may make food preparation easier.

4. Key Turners

Turning a small key can require strong thumb-and-finger pinch combined with wrist rotation.

A key turner enlarges the gripping area and gives the user more leverage. This can be useful when small objects are difficult to hold or twisting causes discomfort.

Adaptive-device guidance from NHS hand-therapy services also lists key turners for people who have difficulty turning keys.

5. Lever-Style Door and Tap Handles

Traditional round door handles and some faucets require gripping and twisting at the same time.

A lever-style handle allows more of the hand—or sometimes another part of the arm—to apply pressure without maintaining a tight circular grip.

Tap turners can serve a similar purpose by increasing the surface area available to grip and reducing the precision needed to turn a faucet.

6. Button Hooks and Zipper Pulls

Small buttons and zipper tabs demand fine finger control and pinching. Those movements can become difficult when arthritis affects the fingers or thumbs.

A button hook helps draw a button through a buttonhole, while a larger zipper pull makes the zipper easier to grasp.

Another practical option is choosing clothing with simpler fasteners when that suits your preferences.

7. Long-Handled Shoehorns and Dressing Aids

Hip, knee, back, or shoulder stiffness can make bending and reaching during dressing uncomfortable.

A long-handled shoehorn can reduce how far you need to bend when putting on shoes. Other dressing aids may help with socks or clothing when reaching the feet is difficult.

The device should allow you to complete the task more easily without forcing the painful joint through an uncomfortable range of motion.

8. Reacher or Grabber Tools

A reacher is a long-handled tool with a gripping mechanism at the end. It can help retrieve lightweight objects from the floor, a shelf, or another location that would otherwise require bending or stretching.

Reachers can be particularly practical when hip, knee, back, or shoulder movement is limited.

They are not appropriate for every object. Heavy, hot, sharp, or fragile items may be unsafe to lift with a simple grabber tool.

9. Bathroom Grab Bars and Shower Aids

Bathrooms combine hard surfaces, water, transfers, and sometimes limited space, so equipment here needs to be chosen with safety in mind.

Properly installed grab bars or handrails may provide additional support when entering or leaving a bath or shower. Shower seats may also help some people who cannot comfortably stand for long periods.

Secure installation matters. A towel rail or decorative fixture should not automatically be treated as a weight-bearing grab bar.

If balance is poor or falls are occurring, professional assessment is more appropriate than simply adding random bathroom gadgets.

10. Raised Toilet Seats

Sitting down onto a low toilet and standing back up requires considerable hip and knee movement.

A raised toilet seat increases the sitting height, which may make transfers easier for some people with painful or limited lower-limb movement.

The appropriate height and design depend on the person and the bathroom setup. Stability is more important than choosing the tallest model available.

11. Canes or Walking Sticks

A cane can provide additional support and may reduce some load through a painful lower limb when used appropriately.

However, side, height, handle position, and walking technique matter. Rather than repeating those instructions here, our dedicated guide explains how to use a cane for arthritis, including which side to use and how to determine an appropriate height.

If you are relying increasingly on a cane because your balance or walking ability is worsening, professional assessment may be useful.

12. Walkers or Walking Frames

A walker provides more support than a single cane because both hands can interact with the device and there is a wider support base.

That does not mean a walker is automatically better. Different designs exist, and a device that is too high, too low, difficult to control, or poorly matched to the person’s balance and strength may not be helpful.

If you are considering a walker because of frequent falls, substantial weakness, or major changes in walking ability, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist can help determine what type of support is appropriate.

Which Arthritis Tools Help Painful Hands?

Hand arthritis can make small, forceful tasks particularly difficult because daily life involves repeated gripping, pinching, twisting, and holding.

Useful arthritis tools for hands often share a few practical features:

• Larger or built-up handles
• Non-slip surfaces
• Increased leverage
• Reduced need for fine pinch
• Lighter weight
• Less repetitive hand force
• Easier-to-operate switches or controls

Examples include jar openers, wide-grip cutlery, key turners, tap turners, pen grips, self-opening scissors, and adapted kitchen tools.

Clinical hand-therapy guidance describes these types of adaptive devices for hand osteoarthritis as ways to reduce strain during everyday activities.

Supports and splints are somewhat different because their purpose depends on the joint and condition being treated. If you are considering a brace because knee symptoms are limiting activity, our guide to choosing a knee brace for knee pain explains why brace type should match the actual problem.

Are Arthritis Gadgets Worth Buying?

Sometimes—but the most useful device is not necessarily the most expensive or technologically advanced one.

Before buying an arthritis aid, ask whether it:

• Makes a specific difficult task meaningfully easier
• Reduces excessive gripping, twisting, reaching, or bending
• Feels comfortable and intuitive to use
• Fits your hand size, strength, and mobility
• Can be stored or accessed conveniently
• Is stable enough for its intended purpose
• Solves a problem you actually experience regularly

If a device takes several minutes to set up for a task that normally takes seconds, you may stop using it.

Similarly, buying a large bundle of “arthritis gadgets” can leave you with equipment that never addresses your real difficulties.

Start with the task, not the product.

When Can an Occupational Therapist Help?

An occupational therapist focuses on helping people perform meaningful everyday activities as independently and comfortably as possible.

For arthritis, that can include assessing difficulties with dressing, cooking, bathing, work, hobbies, hand function, mobility, and other daily activities.

Current NHS rheumatology guidance describes occupational therapy in rheumatology as a service that may recommend equipment, adaptations, splints, hand exercises, joint-protection approaches, and practical ways to manage daily activities.

An OT may be particularly useful when:

• Several activities have become difficult
• You are unsure which type of equipment fits your needs
• Pain is being transferred from one joint to another
• You need home or workplace adaptations
• Hand function has changed substantially
• You need advice about splints or specialized equipment

The aim is not simply to give you gadgets. It is to understand what you need to do and find the least difficult, safest way to do it.

Assistive Devices Should Not Replace Healthy Movement

Using assistive devices does not mean every uncomfortable movement should be avoided.

Arthritis management often includes maintaining appropriate physical activity, strength, flexibility, and joint movement. A device is most useful when it removes unnecessary strain from a task—not when it creates avoidable inactivity.

For example, a jar opener may reduce painful thumb twisting without affecting your overall activity level. A long-handled shoehorn may reduce uncomfortable bending while still allowing you to dress independently.

For broader movement strategies, our guide explains how to improve joint mobility naturally through regular movement and sustainable daily habits.

You can also review our exercises for joint pain relief and mobility if you want beginner-friendly ideas for maintaining movement.

When to Get Professional Advice Before Using a Device

Many simple daily living aids can be tried without extensive medical assessment, but some situations deserve professional guidance.

Consider speaking with a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, doctor, or other appropriate healthcare professional if:

• You are having repeated falls or near-falls
• Balance is getting noticeably worse
• Walking ability has changed rapidly
• You have significant new weakness
• A device causes new pain, pressure, numbness, or skin problems
• You are unsure how to fit or use a cane, walker, brace, or splint
• Home equipment needs secure weight-bearing installation
• Arthritis is preventing basic activities such as washing, dressing, cooking, or moving safely around your home

A sudden major decline in mobility should not simply be managed by buying stronger equipment without understanding why the change occurred.

Conclusion

Assistive devices for arthritis can make many everyday activities more manageable by reducing gripping force, improving leverage, extending reach, supporting mobility, or modifying difficult tasks.

Useful options range from simple jar openers and wide-grip utensils to reachers, dressing aids, bathroom adaptations, canes, and walkers.

The important question is not which arthritis gadget looks most impressive. It is which device solves your actual problem safely, comfortably, and with less effort.

Start with the task you find difficult, choose the simplest practical solution, and make sure the device does not create unnecessary strain somewhere else.

If arthritis is significantly affecting independence, balance, hand function, or mobility, an occupational therapist or physiotherapist can help identify equipment and strategies that are better matched to your individual needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Most Useful Assistive Devices for Arthritis?

The most useful device depends on which activity is difficult. Common options include jar openers, built-up utensils, reachers, dressing aids, key turners, bathroom equipment, and walking aids. A simple device that solves one recurring problem can be more useful than buying many gadgets at once.

What Tools Help Arthritis in the Hands?

Tools with larger grips, non-slip surfaces, increased leverage, or reduced pinch requirements may make hand tasks easier. Examples include jar openers, wide-grip utensils, key turners, tap turners, pen grips, and adapted kitchen tools.

Can an Occupational Therapist Recommend Arthritis Aids?

Yes. Occupational therapists can assess which daily activities are difficult and may recommend equipment, task modifications, joint-protection strategies, splints, or home adaptations based on individual needs.

Should I Use a Cane or Walker for Arthritis?

It depends on your symptoms, balance, strength, and how much support you need. A cane provides less support than a walker and also needs to be the correct height and used appropriately. If you have repeated falls, substantial weakness, or rapidly worsening mobility, professional assessment is preferable to choosing a walking aid by trial and error.