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ALPIMS Practical Supports

Products & Helpful Things

Everyday products, devices, equipment and simple things that may reduce effort, sensory load, discomfort or the number of steps needed to get through daily life.

Start with the problem — not the product.

Calm comfortable living space with useful everyday things
Small things can change the task

A helpful product does not have to be specialised or expensive.

Sometimes an ordinary household item, device or piece of technology becomes an accessibility tool because it reduces effort, discomfort, sensory load, remembering or the number of steps needed to do something.

Start with the difficulty

Work out what is making the activity hard before deciding what kind of product might help.

Reduce repeated load

A useful product may reduce standing, carrying, searching, remembering, strong smells or repeated decisions.

Ordinary can be useful

A stool, basket, timer, phone reminder or different detergent may sometimes make a meaningful difference.

Fit matters

What helps one person may be unnecessary, complicated or uncomfortable for someone else.

What would you like to make easier?

Start with the problem rather than trying to work out which product you need. Choose the closest option.

Everyday products irritate me or smell too strong Open Sensitive Everyday Products →
Browse by theme

Things that may make everyday life easier

Browse by the kind of problem you are trying to solve. Some sections have quick ideas here, while larger topics open into their own product guides.

Comfortable resting space

Rest & Comfort

Things that may make sitting, lying down, resting or changing position easier.

Cushions • lap desks • supportive pillows • footrests • heat and cold options • bedside storage
Calm lower sensory environment

Sensory Comfort

Reduce avoidable noise, light, visual, tactile or other sensory load.

Earplugs • headphones • softer lighting • sunglasses • caps • curtains • comfortable clothing
Simple household and personal care products
Product guide

Sensitive Everyday Products

Explore household and personal-care products when fragrance, strong odours, skin irritation or sensory sensitivity make ordinary products harder to use.

Laundry • cleaning • dishwashing • personal care • skin care • sunscreen • family • home
Includes practical guidance and some product examples.
Open Product Guide →
Quiet bedroom

Sleep & Night-time

Things that may make the sleep environment calmer, darker, quieter or easier to manage.

Sleep masks • pillows • blackout options • gentle lighting • sound management • bedside organisation
Everyday tools and planning items

Energy & Capacity

Reduce standing, carrying, walking, bending and repeated trips.

Stools • trolleys • lightweight tools • reachers • baskets • duplicate supplies • wheeled storage
Simple organised workspace

Tasks & Organisation

Reduce remembering, searching, deciding and keeping track of everyday things.

Timers • visual planners • labels • baskets • open storage • whiteboards • charging stations
Everyday technology and devices
Product guide

Devices

Explore devices and technology that may reduce effort, support communication, make tasks easier or help with everyday independence.

Smart devices • timers • reminders • communication tools • accessibility technology • everyday tech
Start with the problem the device needs to solve, rather than the technology itself.
Explore Devices →
Simple kitchen

Food & Kitchen

Reduce preparation, standing, gripping, lifting, cleaning and decision-making.

Kitchen stools • lightweight cookware • easy-open tools • small appliances • trays • storage
Simple bathroom

Bathroom & Personal Care

Reduce standing, reaching, gripping and the number of steps involved in self-care.

Shower seating • pump bottles • organisers • long-handled tools • easy-use grooming products
Calm practical home

Home & Environment

Change the environment so everyday living asks less of the person.

Lighting • curtains • air cleaning options • lightweight cleaning tools • storage • seating
Useful things for going out

Out & About

Make leaving home, appointments, travel and waiting more manageable.

Lightweight bags • sensory kits • drink bottles • organisers • sun protection • charging packs
Simple everyday tools

Simple & Low-Cost Helpful Things

Start with easy, inexpensive changes that may remove a surprising amount of everyday friction.

Baskets • hooks • labels • trays • duplicate chargers • stools • timers • simple organisers
Everyday products matter too

Looking for fragrance-free or lower-irritant products?

The Sensitive Everyday Products guide brings together practical guidance for frequently used household and personal-care products.

Laundry — detergents and fabric care
Cleaning — surfaces and lower-product approaches
Personal care — washes, hair care and skin care
Home — fragrance-aware everyday choices
Think function first

Ordinary things can become accessibility tools.

The important question is not whether something was designed as disability equipment.

It is whether it removes a barrier or makes an activity more sustainable.

A stool Turns a standing task into a seated one.
A basket Keeps needed things together and reduces searching.
A trolley Changes carrying into pushing.
A duplicate Keeping an item in two places can remove repeated trips.
A timer or reminder Moves some of the remembering outside your head.
A device Can automate, prompt or simplify a repeated task.

Before buying something, ask what it needs to change.

Products and devices are most useful when they solve a specific problem rather than becoming another thing to research, organise, charge, store or remember to use.

What is the hard part?

Is it standing, carrying, noise, smell, pain, remembering, gripping, reaching or something else?

Will it remove a step?

The best option may make the activity simpler rather than adding another routine.

Will I actually use it?

Consider where it will live and how easy it is to reach, clean, charge, refill or maintain.

Can I try something simpler first?

Something you already own may let you test the idea before spending money.

Does it create new work?

Setup, apps, charging, cleaning and maintenance can sometimes outweigh the benefit.

Does it fit the person?

Useful support should fit the person’s needs, preferences, body, environment and capacity.

Explore ALPIMS

Looking for something else?

Explore symptoms and conditions, everyday life tools, capacity, regulation, support and other practical ALPIMS resources from one place.

Explore ALPIMS →
About these suggestions: ALPIMS provides general educational and practical information. Product suggestions are starting points rather than personalised purchasing or medical recommendations. Product labels such as fragrance-free, sensitive, hypoallergenic, unscented or low-odour may have different meanings and do not guarantee that an individual will tolerate a product. Product formulations, features and certifications can change. Some mobility, positioning, medical, monitoring, electrical or safety-related equipment may require professional advice or individual assessment.

Things that may help
    Think about
      Simple place to start