ALS Adaptive Equipment
As your ALS journey takes you down different paths of mobility changes, this page will provide you with information on assistive equipment, medical equipment, smart home automation, and adaptive clothing. Making small changes in your environment will make a difference in independence and energy conservation.
Recommended Durable Medical Equipment
There are different tools you can utilize to make mobility changes easier in your every day life. Adjusting to an alternative item may be unusual at first but these items can make eating, speech, and everyday mobility more accessible and convenient those living with ALS and their caregivers.
Recommended Durable Medical Equipment
Smart Home Automation for ALS
Smart Home Technology (or Home Automation) is using technology to add new ways to control and interact with your devices at home. It makes it possible to remain in the home, have ease in daily activities, build a safe environment, and hopefully a comfortable one. Accessibility with home devices becomes vital as ALS progresses. Smart home technology offers those living with ALS the ability to do many things independently.
Examples of some tasks:
- Limited Lower Body Mobility: With the help of Amazon Echo, it can set a ‘Routine’ for waking up (Amazon Echo communicates with lightbulbs, and thermostat - turns on the lights, sets the thermostat, and tells the person the weather for the day).
- Limited Upper Body Mobility: Users can set a ‘Routine’ or speak manually to a smart plug to turn devices on and off throughout the day and night –everything from turning on your coffee maker, table lamps, outdoor lighting or plugs, TV, and fan. Using a smart lock for the front door makes it easier to get into the home for the person with limited arm and hand strength.
- Limited Speech: Persons using a speech-generating device (SGD) can also set up their smart home products with their SGD. If hand strength has not been affected, persons can set up Schedules just as the above on their Hub or via smartphone. If help is needed, someone can utilize programs such as ‘Ask My Buddy’ which calls for help to a trusted person in an emergency.
- Frontotemporal Dementia with ALS: Motion Sensor Cameras can alert you to your loved one’s whereabouts. Outdoor and indoor cameras can monitor day-to-day activities.
- For Caregivers Outside the Home: Smart smoke detectors can send alerts to Caregivers or the User can set up Emergency Contacts to contact others for needs. Or add on to Alexa Together (for a monthly fee) the option to allow your loved one to call 911 with voice, or detect a fall.
There are a few simple ideas that can be used to adapt existing clothing to make them easier to use for an
individual with ALS.
- For women, skirts or dresses will make it easier to go to the bathroom. But, if you prefer to wear pants,
you can have the side seam adapted with Velcro, zipper, or snap closure to make them easier to take
on/off. - There are pants that are specially designed for those who spend a majority of time sitting. They have
extra room in the back that helps the pants to not cut along the front. - For some, it may be difficult to operate zippers and/or buttons. Pants, boxer shorts, and other items of clothing can be adapted to have a Velcro closure.
- Another idea is to have button down shirts adapted so that it is held closed with Velcro only.
- In the underwear department, front closing braziers are a good option for women. Also, loose fitting
underwear, or underwear that is adapted with Velcro, a zipper, or snap side seams is a good idea. For
men, wearing one size larger briefs or boxer shorts can make going to the bathroom easier. - If you have a family member that sews, this is your chance to get them involved! Look at websites to
get ideas, and then have your family member adapt existing clothing. This can be a very nice way for someone to help you out. - There are several devices to help with putting on jewelry. Magnetic clasps can replace regular necklace
or bracelet clasps. Look for items designed for arthritis patients for easy to use products. A lot of items
can be found in the medical isle of large drug store chains.
A web search for “adaptive clothing” will result in a host of websites.
Here are a few specific resources: