Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Assistive devices for elderly people are assistive products, such as walkers, grab bars, magnifiers and hearing aids, that help an older person keep up everyday functioning. The useful way to sort them is by the function they support, not by room or price. This page maps older-adult needs to device types, shows how the FDA classifies one common device (the mechanical walker), and links to the CASRAI guides that cover individual products in depth. Who uses it: family members, clinic and care-facility staff, and buyers matching a device type to a need.
What assistive devices for the elderly are
The World Health Organization defines assistive technology as “an umbrella term for assistive products and their related systems and services.” Assistive products help maintain or improve functioning in cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care and vision. WHO lists physical examples such as wheelchairs, glasses, prosthetic limbs, white canes and hearing aids, and digital examples such as speech recognition, time-management software and captioning. WHO’s fact sheet (checked 2026-11-01) says more than 2.5 billion people need at least one assistive product, rising to about 3.5 billion by 2050, and cites population ageing as one driver.
For the professional practice that selects and trains people to use these devices, see adaptive equipment in occupational therapy and what occupational therapy is.
Types of assistive devices by function
WHO’s six functional areas give a needs-first frame. The table maps each to examples WHO names and to the CASRAI guide that covers a specific product in that area.
| Function (WHO) | Example products named by WHO | CASRAI guide on a specific product |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility | Wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, white canes | Wheelchair casters |
| Vision | Glasses, white canes | Electronic magnifiers |
| Hearing | Hearing aids, captioning | Assistive listening devices |
| Self-care | Self-care is a WHO function; no specific example listed in the fact sheet | Reacher-grabbers |
| Cognition | Time-management software | Not covered by a dedicated CASRAI guide |
| Communication | Speech recognition, captioning | Not covered by a dedicated CASRAI guide |
Source: WHO, Assistive technology fact sheet, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology, checked 2026-11-01.
Home-safety devices: grab bars and railings
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fall-prevention page (checked 2026-11-01) advises: “Add grab bars inside and outside your tub or shower and next to the toilet.” It also lists railings on both sides of stairs. These are fixtures rather than carried devices, so they sit alongside, not inside, the product types above. For bedside equipment, see the CASRAI guide on bed rail covers and what FDA entrapment guidance says.
How the FDA classifies a walker
One regulatory fact is worth knowing because walkers are among the most common mobility devices. Under 21 CFR 890.3825, a mechanical walker is “a four-legged device with a metal frame” for medical use that gives “moderate weight support while walking” to people with limited strength, balance or stamina (Cornell LII copy of the CFR, checked 2026-11-01). The regulation places it in Class I, which is subject to general controls only. It is exempt from premarket notification (510(k)), and exempt from most quality-system requirements except records and complaint files.
In plain terms: the FDA does not require a premarket submission before a mechanical walker is sold in the US. That is a statement about the regulatory pathway, not about how well any particular walker performs or fits a particular person.
How to match a device type to a function
- Name the function. Pick the WHO function that is affected (mobility, vision, hearing, self-care, cognition or communication) before looking at product types.
- Identify the device type using the table above, then read the product-specific guide.
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions for use for the exact product, since the regulation classifies the device type and does not tell you how a given model is used or adjusted.
Safe use and handling basics
General points only; follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the advice of a clinician who knows the person. CDC names fixtures such as grab bars and stair railings among its home fall-prevention measures. For wheelchairs, see the casters guide above. For equipment that is only needed for a short time, see how a medical equipment loan closet works.
Common mistakes
- Treating “FDA Class I” or “510(k)-exempt” as an endorsement of a specific product. For a mechanical walker it describes the regulatory pathway only.
- Choosing by product category before naming the function that needs support.
- Attributing cane or walker advice to CDC’s fall-prevention page; that page names grab bars and railings.
FAQ
What counts as an assistive device for an elderly person?
Any assistive product that helps maintain or improve functioning in cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care or vision, including wheelchairs, glasses, white canes and hearing aids (WHO, checked 2026-11-01).
Are walkers regulated by the FDA?
Yes. A mechanical walker is a Class I device under 21 CFR 890.3825, exempt from premarket notification (510(k)), with most quality-system requirements also exempt.
What home fixtures does CDC name for fall prevention?
Grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the toilet, and railings on both sides of stairs (CDC, checked 2026-11-01).
Sources
- WHO, Assistive technology fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology (checked 2026-11-01)
- CDC, Preventing falls. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/prevention/index.html (checked 2026-11-01)
- 21 CFR 890.3825, Mechanical walker. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/890.3825 (checked 2026-11-01)
