People with the use of only one hand may have difficulties with cooking, bathing and dressing. One-handed tools can be used to modify everyday activities to perform them more easily.
The following assistive aids can be used to help someone maintain their independence when an injury or illness has affected one of their hands:
One-Handed Kitchen Tools
- Jug kettle tipper
With the use of one hand, it may be difficult to hold a full jug or kettle while angling it slowly to pour its fluid into a cup.
Made of a wire frame, a jug kettle tipper is meant to stabilize containers while allowing a one-handed individual to slowly tip them to pour its liquid into a nearby cup.
This device is great for individuals that lack the strength or coordination to hold a heavy jug or kettle on their own while pouring fluid.
- Rocker knife
Cutting into tough meats or food traditionally requires the use of two hands; one to stabilize the food with a fork while using the other hand to cut through it with a knife.
With a rocker knife, food can be made into smaller pieces by simply rocking the knife back and forth against the food’s surface until it is cut through.
Using a rocker knife only requires the use of one hand.
- Adaptive cutting board
Preparing meals can require the cutting and chopping various fruits and vegetables. This can easily be done with two hands, however it is a more challenging task when there is function in one hand.
With an adaptive cutting board, it is possible to pierce vegetables or fruit onto spikes to stabilize and keep them in place while they are being cut or chopped into smaller bits. This prevents the food from rolling around and allows for even cuts or chops to be made.
Additionally, many adapted cutting boards have a raised corner where a slice of beard can be stabilized against the wall. This allows for jam or other spreads to be easily placed onto the beard’s surface without it shifting or moving.
This assistive aid is an essential item that allows a single handed individual to continue to be independent in the kitchen with meal preparation.
- Clamp on vegetable peeler
Vegetables often provide the nutrition and vitamins people need everyday to help maintain good health. However, many vegetables require that the outer protective skin be peeled prior to cooking or consumption. Similarly, some people wish to peel the skin of fruit for easier digestion or as a preference.
Normally, fruits and vegetables are peeled by holding them in one hand while using a peeler in the other hand to remove the skin. However, this will be hard to do for a single handed person.
By clamping a specifically designed peeler near the sink, you can hold the fruit or vegetables in one hand and bring them to the blade to carefully clean the outer skin. The position of the fruit or vegetable is then changed in the hand to expose more skin and the process is repeated until all the skin has been thoroughly removed. Any peeled skin drops into the sink for easy clean up afterwards.
- Button press chopper
Food is mainly chopped with the use of two hands; one to stabilize the food item while the other hand uses a knife to chop the item into smaller pieces.
This task can be modified for one-handed individuals by using a manual food chopper. Load the food into a chopper, and push the button down that presses blades through the food until it is chopped into the desired size.
With each button press, the food gets chopped into smaller and finer pieces. This device can be used by a single handed person that requires a dysphagia diet to make a minced food texture to allow for easier swallowing.
- Squeeze handle sifter
When baking, powdered ingredients need to be loosened of any chunks to make food more light and fluffy. In order to achieve this, a sifter is used to filter larger bits through a fine mesh screen.
With a one-handed squeeze sifter, ingredients can be loaded into the open top container. Then the kitchen tool is held up while the handle is squeezed to spin a blade that sifts ingredients without any aggressive shaking or cranking of a side handle with a second hand.
- One-handed jar opener
This jar opener is installed underneath a kitchen cabinet and has metal teeth that grips onto the jar lid. After sliding the jar into the device, the jar can be rotated to twist open the lid.
This aid requires that someone have good grip strength in order to grasp and hold the jar up while twisting it with one hand.
- One-handed squeeze can opener
This can opener latches onto a can and allows its user to squeeze the handles together to progressively open the can. With each squeeze, the can rotates and a portion of the top is cut until it has fully rotated and the metal lid is open.
Using this kitchen aid requires good grip strength with the functional hand.
- One-handed grab opener for bottles
To open a beer or other beverage inside a glass bottle, one must hold the bottle with one hand while using a bottle opener with their second hand. This can be challenging if there is only one functional hand.
With a grab opener, a single handed individual can remove bottle caps easily while holding the bottle in the same hand. By design, this aid grips onto the top of a bottle cap and easily comes off when a downward force is applied through the finger hole.
This aid also has a magnet to prevent the cap from falling to the floor once it has been removed from the bottle.
- Pot stabilizer
Usually the frying pan or pot spins as one mixes or flips food to ensure even cooking on all sides. This can make frying and simmering food difficult for a one-handed individual.
By placing the handle of the cookware in between the pot stabilizer arms, one will be able to stir with a single hand without holding the handle of the pot or pan.
The pan holder stays in place by suctioning onto the stovetop.
- Weighted paper towel holder
Ripping a piece of paper towel from a roll usually requires one hand to hold the roll while the other does the tearing.
With a weighted paper towel holder, the paper towel roll is held in place by a weighted base. This allows a single handed person to rip a portion of the paper towel with a swift motion without having the base shift or move.
- One-handed pepper and salt grinder
This kitchen tool holds either whole peppercorns or larger salt pebbles inside a reloadable bulb.
The handles which are used to hold the tool can be squeezed together by a single handed person to crush peppercorn or salt into smaller pieces which then fall out from the bottom.
- Plate guard
Normally, two handed individuals are able to load food onto a utensil by guiding a knife with their other hand. A plate guard is an assistive tool meant to replace the guiding knife and allows a single handed person to eat more independently.
A plate guard adds a wall to an existing plate. This wall can be used for support with placing food onto a fork or spoon. By pushing food against the wall with a fork or spoon, the food lands on the utensil, which can then be brought to the mouth to eat.
- Scooper plate and scooper bowl
A scooper plate and bowl allows a single handed individual use a utensil to push food against the exterior wall. The slight upwards curve of the wall helps place food onto the utensil.
For single handed individuals, this aid can mean the difference between relying on others for help with eating or maintaining one’s own independence.
- One-handed rolling pin
Most rolling pins require the use of two hands to hold the pin on either side.
By using this rolling pin with one handle, the roller can be pushed along with one hand to flatten and spread dough.
- One-handed garlic peeler
This silicone kitchen tool is loaded with cloves of garlic and pressure is applied evenly by one hand as it is rolled back and forth. With sufficient force, the garlic peels come off and can easily be separated.
- One-handed garlic press
This garlic press tool is held with one hand as a rocking motion can be used to crush pieces of garlic and mince them as needed.
Use of this device does require a certain amount of strength as force is needed to be applied through the press. This tool can also crush other ingredients such as a small piece of ginger.
One-Handed Products for Dressing
- Bra angel
This assistive dressing aid is used to help a one-handed person of a bra on. The bra aid is placed around the neck while the hanging loop allows the wearer to connect one part of the bra strap to it. The bra strap is held in place, while the other end is brought over and connected. Once the bra is secure, the device can be detached and removed from the neck.
Some women find it easier to connect the straps when the bra hooks are in the front, and then turn the bra around once the two ends have been joined together.
A bra aid allows a one-handed individual to put on their own brassiere with less difficulty, however its use requires good dexterity and range of motion at the shoulder, wrist and hand.
- Button hook
A button hook is a dressing aid meant to help with doing up and undoing buttons when an individual has good functioning in only one hand.
The device is placed through a button hole and then looped onto a button. From there the button hook is pulled on until the button comes through the button hole and is done up. Once the button is in place, the hook can be removed and work on doing up the rest of the buttons in a similar fashion.
This aid can be used with buttons of varying sizes and also comes with a hook to grab and pull up small zippers on sweaters, jackets or pants.
- Dressing stick
A dressing stick has specially designed hooks at each end that can be used to help with putting on clothes and socks with the use of one hand. The hooks are used to grab clothing and pull them along a limb until the clothing is on properly.
This dressing stick can also be used to undress. For instance, the hook can be slipped between the foot and a sock and used to push a sock off.
- Long handled shoe horn
A long handled shoe horn can be used to put on shoes more easily. This aid reduces the need to bend over to hold the shoe tongue with one hand and the heel notch with the other hand to slip a foot inside.
The long handle allows the end to be placed against the interior of the shoe to help slide a foot along the aid until it is inside. This aid can be used by a one-handed individual and can also help those that have difficulty bending over or are on joint restrictions following total hip replacement surgery.
- Elastic laces
Tying shoe laces is a two handed activity that requires good hand coordination.
Elastic laces are a good way to eliminate the need to tie shoes as they tighten on their own against the shoe. Thus, a one-handed individual can easily place their foot in a shoe and not worry about needing to tie them as the elastic laces secure the shoe in their own.
- Velcro shoes
Another way to eliminate any difficulty with tying shoe laces is to replace the laces with velcro straps.
Velcro shoes can be a useful alternative for individuals that have functioning in only one hand. Secure footwear by joining the matching straps together and easily take shoes off by ripping the velcro apart.
One-Handed Aids for Personal Care and Grooming
- Hair dryer stand
By using a hair dryer stand to hold the dryer, one’s hand can be free to comb or style their hair.
A hair dryer is placed onto the stand, angled as needed and turned on. From there, one rotates their body or head to dry and style their hair as needed.
- One-Handed Nail Clipper
A one-handed individual can normally cut the nails on their non-functional hand with normal nail clippers. But how does one cut their nails on their functional hand?
With the use of an adaptive grooming aid, a one-handed individual can perform their own nail care. Just insert the desired finger in between the two blades and press down on the device with the palm of your hand. This will bring the blades down and make a clean cut in the nail. Repeat this process for each finger until the hand is done.
- Nail Brush with Suction Base
A nail brush can be used to scrape away dirt and help with nail care. By using this aid, a single handed individual can engage in their own grooming care as the suction cups helps to keep the tool from moving during use.
Furthermore, this aid can also be used for scrubbing the outer skin of vegetables. For example, when a recipe calls for the potato skins to remain on, they may need to be brushed clean of any dirt in preparation for cooking.
One-Handed Battery Powered Tools For Activities of Daily Living
- Battery Operated Sifter
Flour, powdered sugar, baking soda, spices and fine salt can become compacted and clump together during packing, shipping and storage. Many recipes call for these ingredients to be included, but clumps must be broken up and powders aerated.
With a battery operated sifter, those that have challenges with squeezing a handle can easily sift ingredients through a steel mesh screen without much effort.
Just place the material in the open top container and push the button until a desired amount has been sifted through.
- Electric Wine Bottle Opener
This assistive device is placed over the wine bottle cork and with the push of a button, the cork is automatically removed. This aid is good for one-handed individuals because it requires little effort and coordination to use.
- Electric Jar Opener
Placing this device over a jar allows someone to remove the lid with a simple push of a button.
This device clamps onto the jar to secure itself, and then latches onto the lid as it twists it off.
This device is great for those that have functioning in only one of their upper limbs as very little effort is required from its user.
- Electric Can Opener
An easy way to remove the top of a can by pushing a button and snowing the battery powered device to do all the work.
The device is put on top of the can and once the button is pushed to activate it, it rotates around as the blades slice the can open.
- Electric Chopper
When someone has difficulty pushing a lever that brings blades down to chop food, an electric chopper is a good alternative.
Once the food is loaded in the electric chopper, the electric motor is turned on to do all the chopping action for you. This involves little further extra effort on the part of the user and is a great tool for those with difficulty with their hands.
The Health Conditions that can Benefit from One-Handed Products
Injuries and many health conditions can lead to permanent disability affecting hand use and function.
Some conditions that can affect hand function include:
- Stroke can leave someone with one sided weakness or paralysis in their arm and hand.
- Arthritis can contribute to hand deformities or severe limitations in how someone is able to use their joints.
- Traumatic injuries from falls or fractures can lead to permanent movement restrictions or weakness when the hand is affected.
- Arm or hand amputations related to cancer or injury may leave someone unable to complete simple activities.
These limitations can make someone reliant on caregivers, direct care workers or family for support with everyday activities and routines.
For individuals that wish to maintain their independence, one-handed aids have been specially designed to modify routine everyday tasks to make them more achievable. Many of these aids are interchangeable and can be used by a right handed or left handed person without relying on others for assistance.