Lovely senior life

[Handmade Assistive Devices] DIY assistive tools made from 100-yen shop materials. Packed with simple ideas.

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Assistive devices are tools that help people whose daily lives are affected by paralysis or reduced physical function due to illness or aging.

A wide range of items are available, from tableware like chopsticks and plates to devices that support everyday activities and even leisure.

In this article, however, we will intentionally focus on assistive devices you can make by hand.

What’s more, all the ideas here use materials you can find at 100-yen shops, making them easy to try.

Use the ideas introduced here as a reference, and consider customizing them to better suit the physical condition of the person who will actually use the assistive device.

[Handmade Assistive Devices] DIY aids made from 100-yen shop materials. Packed with simple ideas (11–20)

An assistive device that lets you turn book pages with one hand

When you’re reading a book, it can be pretty hard to hold the pages down with one hand.

That’s when a book-cover-style assistive tool comes in handy.

Make a cover that wraps around the book using thick paper or similar material, and thread strings through the top corners.

The strings hold down the tops of the pages, preventing them from flipping due to wind or hand movement.

When you want to turn a page, just pull it out from under the string—simple.

You can keep reading smoothly with just one hand.

All the materials are available at a 100-yen shop, and it’s a neat-looking DIY assistive idea.

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Pen grip made with Oyumaru

A handy solution for when it’s hard to grip a pen is an original pen grip made with Oyumaru.

Oyumaru is a resin material that softens in hot water and can be found at 100-yen shops.

It’s very easy to make: wrap the softened Oyumaru around your pen and shape it to fit your hand so it’s easy to hold.

Let it cool as is, and you’ll have a grip with just the right thickness and shape.

It lets you hold the pen firmly, making it easier to apply pressure and reducing fatigue.

Because you can create a grip that fits your hand perfectly, writing becomes a bit more enjoyable.

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shoulder strap for a cane

[Original Assistive Device] Safe even with hemiplegia! A wearable cane?! How to attach the shoulder strap

shoulder strap for a cane

There are times when you’re not using your cane for a moment and have trouble finding a place to put it, right? In situations like that, a “shoulder sling for your cane” made with a spring keychain and cable ties is handy.

First, firmly attach the spring keychain near the top of the cane with a cable tie.

Adjust the position of the other end so it doesn’t sag, then secure it with another cable tie.

This lets you wear the cane across your body like a sash.

Since the cord stretches, it doesn’t get in the way as much, and it’s convenient because you can quickly switch when you need to use your hands.

You can get all the materials at a 100-yen shop.

It’s an idea that makes going out a little easier.

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Dishwashing sponge usable with one hand

[Let’s Make Assistive Devices!] How to Make a One-Handed Dishwashing Sponge

Dishwashing sponge usable with one hand

Let’s try making an assistive device that allows you to wash dishes using only one hand.

The materials you’ll need are an acrylic board, a handled sponge, and suction cups.

To make it, create holes and slits in the acrylic board to attach the sponge and suction cups.

Once finished, you can fix the device to the sink with the suction cups, enabling one-handed dishwashing.

Since it involves using power tools, it may feel a bit challenging for those who aren’t familiar with them.

In that case, consider asking someone skilled at DIY to help.

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A square hanger you can hang with one hand

[Assistive Device Intro ①] Introducing an assistive device that helps with laundry #rehabilitation #assistivedevices

A square hanger you can hang with one hand

When you hang socks, towels, and the like on a multi-clip hanger, you usually hold the laundry with one hand and pinch the clothespin with the other.

In other words, using a multi-clip hanger is difficult for people who can only use one hand.

So let’s make a multi-clip hanger that can be used one-handed.

The materials are: a regular multi-clip hanger, clothespins, S-hooks, and zip ties.

First, remove the clothespins attached to the hanger and hang S-hooks in their place.

Then attach zip ties to the clothespins.

When actually hanging the laundry, clip the clothespins onto the items laid out on a table, then hook the zip ties attached to the clothespins onto the S-hooks on the hanger, and you’re all set.

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sock aid

[Handmade Sock Aid] Tried Wearing Thick Socks! Includes Pattern! | Kokoro Care TV

sock aid

A sock aid is a device that helps people who can’t bend forward due to back pain or can’t bend their knees to put on socks by themselves.

It’s a very common assistive tool, and you can actually make one at home using simple materials.

All you need are a plastic cutting board sheet and ribbon from a 100-yen shop.

Cut the cutting board sheet according to the template, punch holes, thread the ribbon through, and you’re done.

With so few steps, it’s easy to try.

Templates are available online, so download and print them.

If you don’t have a printer at home, you can print at a convenience store.

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[Handmade Assistive Devices] DIY assistive tools made from 100-yen shop materials. Packed with simple ideas (21–30)

Card holder (assistive device for playing cards)

[Handmade Assistive Device] A card-holding aid that secures playing cards—play Old Maid with one hand

Card holder (assistive device for playing cards)

When people hear “assistive devices,” they might think they’re only for daily necessities, but there are also assistive devices for play! This is a playing card stand.

If you can only use one hand, you’d normally have to place your hand on the table and then pick out a card from there, but with this stand you can play cards smoothly.

The materials are a milk carton, a CD, and colored paper, plus stones to use as weights.

Fill the milk carton with stones and fix the CD on top.

Then decorate the whole thing with colored paper, and it’s done.

You could probably substitute other items with similar shapes for the milk carton or CD.

Being able to handle things around you on your own is important, but having fun with family and friends using assistive devices like this is important too.

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