ASSISTIVE DEVICE

Prepared by
Occupational Therapist
In-Patient Unit, CRP, Savar, Dhaka
 Assistive Device
 Any device that is designed, made, or adapted to
assist a person perform a particular task. For
examples, canes, crutches, walkers, wheel chairs,
and shower chairs are all assistive devices.
 Assistive devices can help a person function

better and be more independent. It can make daily

tasks easier. These devices may help ease the
burden on you as a caregiver.
 Allows some patients who cannot ambulate

without an assistive device to ambulate safely

 Indications for using Assistive
Device
 Structural deformity, amputation, injury, or
disease resulting in decreased ability in
performing task
 Muscle weakness or paralysis of the trunk, UL

or LE
 Inadequate balance
What are different types of
Assistive Devices for Independent
Living?
 Many devices are available to help with
activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs are the
normal everyday tasks that people do. These
include cooking, eating and house cleaning.
ADLs also include personal care tasks like
bathing and using the bathroom.
Splinting

Resting Splint Cock-up Splint

 Cont.

Writing Splint
 Cont.

Typing Splint
Splint Materials
 Plastic Wood
 Poly Propylene

 Soft Foam

 Reinforce

 Velcro (Soft & Hard)

 Sticky Velcro

 Rebid

 Rubber
Effectiveness
 Maintains positioning
 Reduction of pain and inflammation

 Scar management

 Joint protection

 Improving joint motion

Kitchen Aids
Kitchen aids help with cooking and feeding
oneself:
 Rocker knives for one-handed cutting

 Easy to grip silverware

 Jar openers

 Reaching tools
 Cont.

One Handed Cutting

Equipment
 Cont.

One Handed Cutting

Equipment
 Cont.

One Handed Jar Opener

 Cont.

Reaching Tool
Bedroom Aid
Bedroom aids make moving around at night
safer:
 Bedside commodes

 Transfer boards

 Night lights
 Cont.

Transferring (W/C
Toilet Chair Toilet Chair)
 Cont.

Sliding Board Transferring (W/C Bed)

Bathroom Aid
Bathroom aids help with bathing and
toileting:
 Hand-held shower head

 Transfer bench for tub

 Shower chair

 Grab bars by toilet

 Cont.

Transferring (W/C
Shower Chair Shower Chair)
 Cont.

Grab Bar
Dressing Aid
Dressing aids make dressing oneself easier:
 Zipper pulls and Velcro tabs

 Elastic or non-tie shoelaces

 Easy-to-pull sock and panty hose aids

Grooming Aid
Grooming aids help with personal hygiene
needs:
 Long-handled combs and brushes

 Electric toothbrushes

 No-rinse shampoo and body wash

Grooming Aid

Modified Comb (Long Modified Grip for Brush

Handled)
Feeding Equipment

Modified Grip Spoon

 Cont.

Modified Plate and Glass

 Cont.

Feeding Belt with Spoon

Modified Glass Handle
 What are different types of
Assistive Devices for mobility
independence?
 Mobility aids help with walking or
moving from place to place. They can
help prevent falls and improve
independence.
 Cont.
Gait belts and lift vests:
 Make lifts and transfers safer

 Provide secure handhold for caregivers when

walking is unstable
 Help caregiver balance survivor
 Cont.
Canes:
 Decrease stress on the weak or affected leg

 Simple but effective walking tools

 Widen the base of support

 Various types of canes are available

 Cont.

Four point stick

 Cont.
 Used with pts with slight weakness of LE,
pain in LE, or with pts who need assistance
with balance during ambulation
 Aluminum or wood

 Adjustable

 Quad cane or single point

 Offset handle
 Cont.
Crutches:
 Provide support under the arm to take stress

off the leg

 More stable than canes

 Various types of crutches are available

 Cont.

Elbow Crutch
 Cont.
 Need to decrease weight bearing on 1 LEs
 Need UE strength & coordination

 Need some trunk support

 Available aluminum or wood

 Adjustable height
 Cont.
Walkers:
 Offer additional support to make up for lost

strength
 Provide maximum stability

 Should be sized to fit user

 Various types of walkers are available

 Cont.

Walking Frame
 Cont.
 Patients with poor balance and coordination,
decreased weight bearing on 1 or 2 LE. Used
more often with elderly
 Adjustable

 Height

 Wheels
What Are the Different Types of
Wheelchairs?
Wheelchairs are designed to help those
who can no longer walk safely. They come
in many shapes, sizes and varieties.
 Cont.
Manual wheelchairs:
 Depend on physical strength of the user or

attendant
 Require arm or leg strength to move – unless

there is someone to push

 Lightweight; easy to push and maneuver

(dependent on weight of user)

 Less costly than motorized wheelchairs
 Cont.
Motorized or electric wheelchairs:
 Powered by battery or electricity

 Less physical exertion is required

 No one needs to assist user

 The Individual must be able to make decisions

and maneuver safely

 Cont.

Manual Wheel Chair (4

Wheeler)
 Cont.

Wheel Chair (3 Wheeler)

 Cont.

Tri-Cycle
 Cont.

Low Trolley
W/C Assessment Form

Wheel Chair Assessment Form

 Wheel Chair Materials
 Metal
 Pipe

 Ring

 Tire

 Tube

 Bearing

 Frog

 Spoke
 Cont.
 Huffs
 Nut
 Back cushion
 Handle
 Rim
 Footrest
 Seat Cushion
 Ply Wood
 Break
 Belt
Adaptive Equipment for
Gardening

Long Handled
Shuffle
 Cont.

Long Handled Hoe

 Cont.

Modified Sickle
 Cont.

Modified Hoe
 Cont.

Long Handled Soil Pick up

 Cont.

Long Handled Soil Pick up

References
 Hombach, M. (2012). "The Purpose of Splints as Part of
Rehabilitation." Retrieved November 24, 2014, from
http://mmidocs.blogspot.com/2011/04/purpose-of-splints-a
s-part-of.html
.
 Pedretti, L. W. (1996). Occupational Therapy: Practice
Skills for Physical Dysfunction Boston, Mosby.
 Shriver, E. K. (2013). "What are some types of assistive
devices & how are they used?". Retrieved November 24,
2014, from
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/rehabtech/conditio
ninfo/pages/device.aspx
.
Discussion
Thanks to all