Single-handed tools: What tools are available for individuals who only have the use of one hand?

A variety of single-handed tools are designed to help an individual complete day-to-day tasks and regain their independence when it comes to cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. Here are some examples:

Cooking

• The One Handed Combination Cutting Board by ParsonsADL (at SeniorsStore) is designed to allow individuals with one-handed capabilities complete food preparation tasks. The board has a suction cup base to provide stability, spikes to hold foods for slicing or peeling, a chef’s knife, and two raised corner pieces to hold bread for spreading. This product costs about $70 (CDN) plus a shipping fee.
• A pan holder uses a suction cup base to hold the handle of a pot or pan from moving while stirring or moving contents on a stovetop. The Pan Holder by North Coast Medical (at The Wright Stuff) and Folding Pot Stabilizer (at Elder Store) are two examples and cost about $15 to $35 (USD) plus additional shipping fees.
• One Handed Vegetable Brush (at Elder Store) uses a suction base to hold the vegetable scrubber, allowing easy vegetable cleaning. The Fruit and Veggie Scrubber (at SimpyGoodStuff) provides a similar design but with more suction cups for added stability. These devices cost about $9 to $11 (USD) plus an additional shipping fee.
• The Homecraft Clamp-On Vegetable Peeler (at Performance Health) can adjust between 3/8 and 2 inches to fix itself to the countertop or table to allow easy peeling for the user. This device costs about $70 (CDN) plus additional shipping fees.
• Dycem Non Slip Reel (at Elder Store) is a thin woven fabric designed to create a stable and secure base for plates, cups, bowls and cutlery on any smooth, dry surface, such as a countertop or table. This item costs about $50 (USD) for a roll.
• One Touch Can Opener by Bios Medical (at Staples Canada). To use this product, you simply place the device on top of the can, press the button and the can opens in seconds. This device costs about $40 (CDN), plus an additional shipping fee.
• KitchenAid Mini Food Chopper (at Walmart) is lightweight and can process or chop a wide variety of foods. This device costs about $80 (CDN), plus an additional shipping fee.

Cleaning

• Bar Glass Washers such as Ellsang Glass Cup Washer (at Amazon Canada) and Carlisle Sparta Triple Glass Washer (at Amazon Canada) use a suction cup base to allow cleaning for glassware or crockery easily. These products range from $15 to $100 (CDN), plus additional shipping fees.
• Upright brooms and dustpans are capable of easily sweeping debris into the dustpan with minimal effort of holding the dustpan. Brooms and dustpans are available through online retailers such as Walmart, Seniors Store, and Amazon and cost about $40 to $60 (CDN), plus additional shipping fees.
• The Vileda EasyWring Microfibre Spin Mop and Bucket (at Amazon Canada) spins and wrings its mop head through a foot pedal on the bucket, freeing the user from using both hands. This product costs about $40 (CDN), plus a shipping fee.

If your mother interested in any other one-handed tools, the Elder Store has a wide variety of other tools designed for individuals with use of one arm or hand.