Originally published on mrpurple-assistivetech.com.au.

By Dr Tom Hitchcock, founder of Mr Purple (LinkedIn)

Daily living aids are tools that can make ordinary tasks easier, safer or less tiring for older people, people with disability and other vulnerable people. The best aid is rarely the fanciest one. It is the one that fits the person, the task and the place where it will actually be used.

This guide explains what to look for, what to avoid and how families, users and care teams can make a sensible choice without turning the home into a gadget showroom.

What are daily living aids?

Daily living aids are products designed to support everyday activities. They may help with preparing food, dressing, bathing, using the toilet, moving around the home, remembering routines or reaching items. Some are delightfully simple, such as an easy grip utensil. Others use sensors or connected technology to provide prompts, alerts or reassurance.

Common categories include:

• Kitchen aids: easy grip cutlery, plate surrounds, jar openers and non slip preparation mats.
• Dressing aids: long handled shoe horns, button hooks, stocking aids and reachers.
• Bathroom aids: shower seating, tap turners, toilet supports and long handled washing tools.
• Household aids: key turners, large controls, adapted switches and simple communication devices.
• Reminder and alert tools: clocks, prompts, call buttons and monitoring technology.

An aid does not have to be complicated to be useful. A small change that removes one daily frustration can have a very large ripple.

Start with the task, not the catalogue

Before comparing products, watch how the task happens now. Where does it become awkward, tiring, painful, confusing or risky? Is the difficulty caused by grip, reach, balance, vision, memory, strength, coordination or the layout of the room?

Useful questions include:

• What does the person want to do more independently?
• Which part of the task causes the difficulty?
• Where will the aid be stored and used?
• Can the person set it up and operate it comfortably?
• Will a family member or support worker need to clean, charge or check it?

This avoids a common trap: buying a clever product that solves the wrong problem. A reacher may help someone collect a light item from the floor, for example, but it may not suit every object or every user. Context matters.

How to choose daily living aids that fit the person

Good selection is personal. Two people doing the same task may need very different support. Consider the person’s preferences, routines, abilities and environment, rather than treating age or diagnosis as the whole story.

Look closely at:

• Ease of use: controls should be clear, comfortable and manageable.
• Fit: size, height, grip and positioning should suit the user.
• Effort: the product should reduce work, not create another job.
• Cleaning: surfaces and removable parts should be practical to maintain.
• Storage: an aid hidden in a difficult cupboard may quietly retire on day one.
• Compatibility: check that it works with the furniture, bathroom, doorway, device or routine already in place.

Where the choice relates to mobility, transfers, posture, swallowing, skin care or another health concern, ask an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, nurse or relevant health professional. They can assess the person and the setting. Funding questions should go to the person’s plan manager, support coordinator or relevant funding body.

Try before making the choice

A demonstration or trial can reveal things that a product page cannot. The handle may look comfortable but feel slippery. A control may seem simple but be difficult to see. An alert may work beautifully in one room and be hard to hear in another.

During a trial, use the product in a realistic way. If it is a kitchen aid, try the actual food preparation task. If it is a reminder tool, check whether the prompt is noticed during a normal routine. If several people provide support, include them in the trial where possible.

Pay attention to dignity and consent as well as function. Technology should support the person, not make them feel watched or managed. Explain what a connected product does, who can receive information and how it can be turned off. If the person does not want it, that matters.

Check the home and the support around the aid

Even a well chosen product can fail if the surroundings work against it. Check lighting, floor surfaces, power access, internet coverage, furniture position and the space needed to use the aid. For bathroom or mounted products, professional installation may be appropriate.

Also decide who will handle the small ongoing jobs. Batteries need replacing. Devices need charging. Equipment needs cleaning. Contact details may need updating. A simple written routine can prevent an excellent aid from becoming an expensive ornament.

Review the choice after it has been used for a while. People’s needs and routines change. Ask whether the aid is still helping, whether it is being used correctly and whether a simpler option would now work better.

A practical next step

Begin with one task that matters to the person. Define the difficulty, compare a small number of suitable options and test the best candidate in the real setting. Small, thoughtful choices usually beat a trolley full of hopeful gadgets.

If you would like to see what may suit your home or service, explore our assistive technology options and book a demonstration. A calm conversation and a proper look at the task is a very good place to start.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between daily living aids and assistive technology?

Daily living aids are a broad group of practical products used for everyday tasks. They can be simple or form part of a wider assistive technology solution.

How do I know which daily living aid is suitable?

Start with the exact task and the person’s preferences, abilities and environment. For health related or complex needs, ask an appropriate allied health professional for an individual assessment.

Can I trial a daily living aid before buying it?

Some suppliers offer demonstrations or trials, depending on the product. A trial can help you check comfort, usability and fit in the real setting.

Are daily living aids only for older people?

No. They may support older people, people with disability, people recovering from illness or injury and anyone who finds a daily task difficult.