How People with Parkinson’s Can Benefit from Adaptive Aids and Assistive Technology

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) can make some daily tasks more challenging. People with PD may find that the activities of daily living, such as eating, grooming, and using the bathroom, become more physically demanding as the disease progresses. They also may experience difficulty using technology, such as smartphones and computers. Fortunately, by utilizing the help of an occupational therapist (OT), as well as adaptive aids and/or assistive technologies, people with PD can often continue to participate fully in life.

Occupational therapists work to identify a person’s key needs, while looking for opportunities to encourage them to participate in meaningful occupations. In this sense, an occupation is an activity that brings purpose to one’s life, and includes activities that people want to, need to, or are expected to do (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, n.d.). Based on their observations, OTs can recommend adaptive aids and assistive technologies that can help people with PD better adapt to their symptoms (McKall, 2020). While the two terms appear similar, they differ in one key way: assistive technologies are used by many people, including those with or without limitations, as a way of improving their abilities or making a task easier. Adaptive aids, on the other hand, are primarily used by people with limitations (Dakota Center for Independent Living, n.d.).

Adaptive Aids

Adaptive aids, also known as adaptive equipment or adaptive devices, are tools that can help people with Parkinson’s during activities of daily living. Their use is intended to improve the user’s physical abilities, such as by stabilizing utensils to reduce the effect of tremor. There are various types of adaptive aids that may help people with PD, each targeting different activities of daily living, such as (McKall, 2020):

Mobility: walkers, wheelchairs, canes
Dressing: shoe horns, button hooks
Eating: bottle openers, weighted or tremor-reducing cutlery, electric can openers
Handwriting: large grip and/or weighted pens and pencils
Bathroom usage: toothpaste squeezers, non-slip mats, raised toilet seats with handles

Adaptive aids can help people with Parkinson’s continue to care for themselves independently, which may boost their self-esteem and self-worth (National Parkinson Foundation, n.d.). They can also make the activities of daily living a safer experience; for example, by reducing the physical demands required to perform a task, adaptive aids may be able to reduce fall and slip risk. Additionally, these tools can facilitate healthy habits, like the ability to exercise, which can keep someone with Parkinson’s more active in the long run.

Assistive Technology

Similarly, assistive technology aims to boost a person’s ability to perform tasks and activities. These technologies encompass a wide variety of possibilities, and typically allow the user to more easily use technological devices, like smartphones or computers. However, assistive technology can be added to common items around the home, such as lightbulbs, to make them more accessible to use. Some examples of assistive technology are (McKall, 2020):

Smartphones: speech-to-text converters, which are often preinstalled on newer smartphone models, voice amplifying software to increase volume, medication management apps that can be accessed by one or more caregivers/carepartners
Computers: accessibility features that help reduce typing accidents by telling the computer to ignore brief or repeated keystrokes
Smart home devices: light clappers and motion-sensitive lights, as well as programmable ovens, refrigerators, and thermostats, remote-locking doors that can be locked and unlocked from anywhere

As no two people with Parkinson’s are the same, their reasons for using assistive technologies may differ. However, the outcome is that they are better able to enjoy life, retain their independence, and stay connected (National Parkinson Foundation, n.d.). Assistive technologies can also help simplify managing one’s home, in addition to making it safer (McKall, 2020).

Ensuring Success

To ensure success while using assistive technologies and adaptative aids, it is important to ask yourself the following questions (McKall, 2020):

Does this technology/aid meet my specific needs and challenges?
Is there a simpler solution I can implement that will have the same results?
Will this technology/aid be easy to incorporate into my daily routine, or will it require extraordinary efforts?
What support do I have in learning how to use the technology/aid, as well as troubleshooting any issues that may arise in the future?
Are there any demonstrations of the technology/aid available that I can reference going forward?
If I discover it is not a suitable option for me after I have tried it, can I return it?
Can I afford this technology/aid, and are there any funding options available (for example, is it covered through my insurance plan)?

After carefully considering these questions and selecting an appropriate technology or aid, there are further ways to increase the likelihood that the tool will be a good long-term fit. Firstly, working with an occupational therapist will ensure the best success, as OTs are experts in the use of assistive technologies and adaptative aids. If an occupational therapist is not an option, a technologically-savvy loved one may be able to help. Furthermore, it is imperative that you schedule enough time to learn to use the tool, and to integrate it into daily habits and routines. We also learn best by doing, so taking a hands-on approach will help facilitate learning (McKall, 2020).

Common Concerns

Individuals who use assistive technologies and adaptative aids may encounter common issues, such as (McKall, 2020):

Feeling defeated. The use of assistive tools is not a sign that you are unable to care for yourself. In fact, by allowing these tools to help you when you need it most, you are more likely to be able to engage in hobbies and activities you enjoy, stay safe, and maintain your independence (National Parkinson Foundation, n.d.).
Feeling overwhelmed. It is completely normal to feel uncertain about new technologies and tools. Fortunately, shifting your mindset so the new tool becomes a challenge instead of a threat can be very helpful. Support from caregivers/carepartners, friends, and family may also ease feelings of anxiety.
Needing additional support and/or help with troubleshooting. To counter this, it is prudent to purchase from companies that offer long-term support options, so you can be assured support will always be available when you need it. However, always read the fine print carefully and consider the cost of any monthly or annual subscription fees.
Not feeling tech-savvy enough. You can enlist the help of loved ones in creating a simplified instruction manual for more complex tools. However, in case the tool is not a good fit after all, ensure it has a good return policy before purchasing.

Sources

Dakota Center for Independent Living. (n.d.). Adaptive vs. Assistive Technology. https://dakotacil.org/2016/10/31/adaptive-vs-assistive-technology

McKall, K. (2020, April 3). Independence Through Using Adaptive Aids and Assistive Technology [PowerPoint slides]. Movement Disorder Clinic, University of British Columbia.

McKall, K. (2020, April 3). SMART Homes & SMART Goals [PowerPoint slides]. Movement Disorder Clinic, University of British Columbia.

National Parkinson Foundation (n.d.). Assistive Devices & Home Health. https://www.parkinson.org/sites/default/files/Assistive%20Devices.pdf

World Federation of Occupational Therapists (n.d.). About Occupational Therapy. https://wfot.org/about/about-occupational-therapy

This content was published in the Fall 2022 edition of our quarterly magazine, Viewpoints. The content was accurate as of this publication date.

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