Enhancing daily life for older adults living with disabilities requires the right combination of home modifications and accessories as well as a network of family support.
What are Handicap Accessories?
Handicap accessories are any assistive devices or adaptability aids that make other accessibility devices easier and safer to use or otherwise help improve the safety, mobility, and independence of people living with disabilities.
Handicap accessories can fall into a few general groups, including:
- Mobility aids, or aids that help people move about.
- Daily living aids, or aids that help people complete activities of daily living (ADLs) like getting dressed, taking showers, and using the restroom.
- Home modifications, including bathroom and bedroom aids, that help people live safely and independently in their home.
- Sensory aids, or aids that help people living with sight loss, hearing loss, or sensory problems.
- Communication and technology aids, or aids that help people better communicate or access technology.
Why are Assistive Devices Important?
Assistive devices help people living with disabilities or chronic conditions live more safely and confidently by helping them be better able to move, communicate, and interact with their environment. In other words, they help someone with a disability complete daily activities on their own or with reduced reliance on others, protecting their autonomy and dignity.
Key benefits of assistive technology include:
- Helping prevent falls and other injuries
- Supporting independence and dignity
- Making life easier for older adults, their families, and caregivers
What Assistive Devices Might Be Necessary in the Home and Beyond?
The type of handicap accessories or assistive devices people need depends entirely on their particular disabilities, living situations, and support levels.
The following devices can help promote safety and freedom for older people, especially those living with a disability.
Mobility Aids
Many older people living with limited mobility find the following mobility aids helpful:
- Wheelchairs
- Mobility scooters
- Rollators
- Stair lifts and ramps
- Crutches and other walking aids
Daily Living Aids
Devices that can help individuals complete daily tasks with confidence include:
- Dressing aids
- Grabbers/reachers
- Key turners
- Incontinence supplies and other toilet aids
- Adaptive utensils
Home Modifications
The following home modifications can help older people navigate their homes more easily while also reducing the risk of falls:
- Non-slip shower mats
- Durable grab bars
- Heavy-duty bed rails
- Shower chairs
- Recliners with easy-to-pull, long handles
- Transfer benches and transfer boards
Sensory Aids
Sensory aids can help someone see and hear more clearly or reduce sensory discomfort, all of which enable someone to interact with their surroundings with greater ease. Sensory aids that many older adults find beneficial include:
- Reading glasses
- Hearing aids
- Sound-reducing headphones
Communication and Technology Aids
The following aids can help older people more readily use technology and better communicate with others:
- Closed captioning
- Adaptive keyboards
- Easy-to-use cell phones with preprogrammed numbers
Other Aids to Support Independence
Other assistive aids that older adults can discuss with their families, caregivers, and medical team include:
- Wearable medical alert systems
- Robot vacuum cleaners
- Home security systems
Where Can I Buy Handicap Accessories for the Elderly?
There are plenty of locations, both online and in person, to access the right handicap accessories.
Online retailers like Amazon, for example, sell a wide range of mobility aids, sensory aids, bathroom aids, and other assistive devices, all of which can be delivered directly to the older person’s home. Some sellers even offer white glove services to bring the devices into the home and set them up.
Brick-and-mortar locations can also connect families with the right accessories, including medical supply stores, physical therapy centers, and Centers for Independent Living (CILs).
How Can I Pay for Assistive Devices for My Aging Loved One?
How to pay for assistive technology is an understandable concern for many families. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to pay for this technology, including:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Veterans benefits
- Flex spending accounts (FSAs)
- Private insurance policies
- Savings accounts
- State-level Assistive Technology (AT) programs
- Local organizations and nonprofit aid
Senior Handicap Accessories FAQs
What assistive devices are available for seniors?
There are plenty of assistive devices available to seniors living with disabilities, ranging from mobility aids like wheelchairs to bathroom aids like non-slip shower mats to bedroom aids like bed rails to daily living aids like adaptive utensils.
Does Medicare pay for handicap equipment?
In some cases, yes, Medicare may help pay handicap equipment. Specifically, if someone has Medicare Part B, their coverage may extend to up to 80% of the costs of doctor-prescribed durable medical equipment (DME) that the insured individual needs for home use.
What are the best handicap accessories to help elderly individuals maintain independence?
Deciding which handicap accessories for elderly individuals are best will depend on someone’s exact needs and living situation. It’s best determined by an honest conversation between the older adult in question, their family members, caregivers, and medical team.
Disclaimer: Each person’s situation is unique. This article is for general informational purposes only. It does not substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition.