Keep Able

Low-risk AT for housework.

Welcome to our guide on low-risk assistive technology (AT) for jobs around the home. This page is part of our AT for everyday living series. It looks at simple, off-the-shelf items that can help older people do housework independently. It also shows how to use these items with other reablement ideas to promote healthy ageing.

An older man wiping down a surface with a cleaning cloth

Learn about low-risk assistive technology (AT) that can help older people maintain their home.

Using low-risk assistive devices for everyday tasks, such as housework, has many benefits.

For example, maintaining a home with the support of low-risk items can:

  • Help improve important skills for daily living. This includes strength, balance, and hand control
  • Help people believe and take pride in themselves
  • Help reduce feelings of pain and fatigue

Low-risk AT is a reablement strategy. It provides practical support for older people to do things for themselves.

This page will explore low-risk AT and other reablement strategies that older people can use to do household tasks. This includes:

  • Building capacity
  • Modifying the task
  • Adapting the environment
  • Providing information

If you don’t know what ‘low-risk’ means or are unfamiliar with these reablement strategies, don’t worry. We’ll explore these topics, too.

By the end, you’ll be able to talk to your client about AT and other reablement strategies. You’ll know how to help them consider items and lifestyle changes that can boost their independence.

What is low-risk assistive technology (AT)?

Low-risk AT is a reablement strategy. It means aids, equipment, or devices that can usually be bought ‘off the shelf’. These items also:

  • Are not likely to cause harm
  • Can be installed and used with minimal training or professional knowledge

Low-risk AT helps people be independent in daily tasks. These benefits are the focus of wellness and reablement.

Complementary reablement strategies

Cleaning floors

These items may assist people experiencing difficulty with bending, reaching, lifting, balance, mobility, or grip strength. This may be due to joint pain, muscular conditions, poor vision, poor coordination, injury or illness recovery, and pain or weakness in the hands, arms, or back.

Black and silver lightweight cordless vacuum

Cordless lightweight stick vacuum

Lighter to carry and manoeuvre, this vacuum has no barrel to pull or cord as a tripping hazard and so improves safety. It cleans carpets and hard surfaces in a walking motion, reducing push and pull movements.

A dark blue and silver spray and glide mop

Spray and glide mop

These lightweight mops have an attached spray bottle for water or cleaning solution. They're easy to use and store, with a simple trigger on the handle to quickly clean spills or small areas.

A green long-handled dustpan and broom

Long-handled dustpan and broom

This allows small areas to be swept and rubbish to be collected in the tray without bending down to floor level. It's lightweight for easy carrying and storage.

A green spin mop and bucket

Lightweight spin mop and bucket

This mop is suitable for hard surfaces like wood, tiles, laminate, and stone. The extendable pole and spin motion reduce the need to hand-wring the mop. Some models have wheels for easy movement.

A red steam mop

Steam mop

The steam from this device helps clean hard floors and keep them hygienic. The lightweight design and swivel head make it easy to clean hard-to-reach places without straining, and it’s easy to store.

A black circular robot vacuum

Robot vacuum

Unlike traditional vacuums, robot vacuums don’t require human action other than being placed on the charging station. They run as programmed to move across hard floors, eliminating the need for pushing, pulling, or heavy lifting.  

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Cleaning the bathroom

These items may assist people experiencing difficulty with bending, reaching, lifting, balance, mobility, or grip strength. This may be due to joint pain, muscular conditions, poor vision, poor coordination, injury or illness recovery, and pain or weakness in the hands, arms, or back.

An electric spinning scrubber with attachments

Spin scrubber

The lightweight, battery-powered spin scrubber features a handle extender and various easy-to-attach heads, including a hard bristle brush for quickly cleaning mould and scum on wall tiles and floors without bending or reaching.

A green and silver bathroom cleaning mop with attachments

Long-handled floor scrubbing brush

These mops are designed specifically for cleaning bathroom surfaces without bending, kneeling, or reaching. They come with a long handle and different brush heads that scrub tiles and clean surfaces from a standing position.

A yellow handheld steamer for cleaning

Handheld steam cleaner and mop

This handheld device can be used to hygienically clean benchtops, around taps, and more using only water. Use just enough water for ease of holding and add the extendable handle to clean hard-to-reach areas without bending.

A white long-handled toilet brush

Long-handled toilet brush

This long-handled toilet brush works like a standard toilet brush for cleaning the bowl but reduces the need to bend. It’s lightweight and can be stored beside the toilet for easy access.

A green long-handled microfibre duster

Microfibre bendable duster

This microfibre bendable duster can wipe floor surfaces under the vanity without bending and clean windowsills without reaching. It’s lightweight, has an extendable handle, and can be adjusted to any angle.

A white and blue soft-grip squeegee

Soft-grip squeegee

Keeping this soft-grip squeegee in the shower allows easy wiping of the glass after use to prevent soap scum buildup. Use it with a ‘no-wipe’ shower cleaner every few days to maintain cleanliness.

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Cleaning surfaces

These items may assist people experiencing difficulty with bending, reaching, lifting, balance, mobility, or grip strength. This may be due to joint pain, muscular conditions, poor vision, poor coordination, injury or illness recovery, and pain or weakness in the hands, arms, or back.

A blue electrostatic duster being used to clean an indoor air-conditioning unit

Electrostatic duster

When brushed against surfaces, these dusters generate static electricity, allowing them to attract and trap dust in hard-to-reach places without scattering it.

A pack of disinfectant wipes

Disinfectant cleaning wipes

These pre-moistened wipes disinfect surfaces without raising dust particles and can be disposed of after use, reducing dust buildup and the need to wash cloths. They glide easily on surfaces without hard rubbing.

A yellow handheld steamer for cleaning

Handheld steam cleaner and mop

This handheld device can be used to hygienically clean benchtops, around taps, and more using only water. Use just enough water for ease of holding and add the extendable handle to clean hard-to-reach areas without bending.

A neatly rolled pile of differently coloured microfibre cloths

Microfibre cleaning cloths

These washable cloths can be used wet or dry to collect dust, spills, and messes. Available in various colours for designated areas, they're designed to trap dust particles instead of just moving them.

A bendable duster head in its packet

Long-handled gap dust cleaner

This lightweight device can reach tight spaces like beside the fridge, shower, or microwave. It can be bent to the shape required, while its long handle reduces the need for bending and reaching.

A black and yellow long-handled reacher

Long-handled reaching aid

With these devices, a cloth or sponge can be placed in the grabbing mechanism to clean hard-to-reach areas. Thay can be used inside, outside, or in the car.

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Other cleaning tasks

These items may assist people experiencing difficulty with bending, reaching, lifting, balance, mobility, or grip strength. This may be due to joint pain, muscular conditions, poor vision, poor coordination, injury or illness recovery, and pain or weakness in the hands, arms, or back.

A bottle of window cleaning solution

Outdoor glass cleaner

This item attaches to a garden hose and sprays external glass windows to remove dust and dirt. Typically available in 2-litre bottles, it cleans a standard house size without the need for reaching.

A small green bucket holding cleaning products

Cleaning caddy

This caddy allows the user to carry cleaning supplies from room to room without walking back and forth. The weight can be easily adjusted by changing how much is placed inside.

A green long-handled duster for ceiling fans

Long-handled ceiling fan duster

This long-handled duster features a circular head and various adjustable dusting attachments, enabling you to clean fan blades without having to climb ladders or furniture.

A blue triangular device for lifting mattresses

Mattress lifter

This device slides under mattresses to create a gap, making it easier to fit sheets without using hand or arm strength. It also reduces the risk of hand pain or fatigue.

Two hard-bristled dusters for removing cobwebs

Cobweb brushes

These brushes feature long handles to remove high cobwebs both indoors and outdoors without needing to reach or be in close proximity. The brush is made of hard bristles that can be rinsed clean.

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Useful Resources

For more detailed information on low-risk assistive technology (AT) for housework, check out these resources. They provide helpful advice on the items mentioned here and offer more tips on staying independent and healthy as people age:

  • Making Choices, Finding Solutions (MCFS): The MCFS guide is designed to help older people find and choose simple assistive devices for all areas of life. It includes suggested devices available from well-known retailers and reliable online stores, as well as useful tips and advice from occupational therapists.
  • Reablement Essentials: Reablement Essentials are practical guides researched and curated by our Sector Support and Development team. These guides can help you better understand key wellness and reablement concepts, communicate their value to your clients, and ultimately support your clients to pursue healthier and more independent lives.
  • LiveUp: LiveUp is an online healthy ageing guide that offers free personalised suggestions for healthy ageing. Users can take the LiveUp quick quiz to find advice, local activities, and assistive devices tailored to help them age their way.
  • The National Equipment Database (NED): NED is Australia's largest online database of assistive technology (AT). It serves as a comprehensive resource for people, carers, and allied health professionals to find, compare, and purchase AT, helping people with disabilities or mobility issues to live more independently.


Next steps

The low-risk assistive (AT) and other reablement strategies explored on this page can support your clients in managing their household tasks independently.

And by supporting your clients to do things for themselves, these strategies can enhance their sense of confidence, autonomy, and potential to age well.

If you want to learn more about integrating assistive devices into your care planning, please email us at keepable@ilaustralia.org.au or click 'Contact Us' below.

We also provide tailored presentations on wellness and reablement for teams wanting to enhance their knowledge and skills, just ask us about it via email or complete the contact form below!

Thank you for your commitment to wellness and reablement. By supporting your clients to do things for themselves, you support them to age on their own terms, in their own homes, longer.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that while brand names may appear on this page, their inclusion does not imply our endorsement. These branded images have been sourced from our affiliated organisations, LiveUp and NED (National Equipment Database), and Pinterest to provide informational support and inspiration, not to promote any specific products.