Quick answer: Start with the task you find hard, then look for the simplest solution. Check first for free help: a council needs assessment can provide equipment, and an occupational therapist can advise. Look for thick, light, easy-grip designs that reduce force and reach. Be wary of cure claims and pressure selling. If you are disabled, you may not pay VAT on qualifying products.
Checked on 11 October 2026 against GOV.UK guidance on VAT relief for disabled people and returns and refunds, the NHS guide to household gadgets and equipment, and Arthritis UK's advice on aids and adaptations. We have not tested any products and do not rank brands. There are no affiliate links on this page.
The right gadget can make a real difference with arthritis: a kettle you can pour without wincing, a jar you can open on your own, or a tap that turns with a push of the palm. But the market is huge, prices vary widely, and some products promise far more than they deliver. This guide does not review products. Instead, it gives you the questions to ask, the features that usually matter, the warning signs of a poor buy, and the routes to getting help, trying before you buy and avoiding VAT.
Start with the task, not the product
The most useful question is not "what gadget should I buy?" but "which task is hard, and why?". For example:
- Is opening jars hard because of grip strength, pain in the thumb base, or wrist pain?
- Is getting dressed hard because of reaching your feet, fiddly buttons, or shoulder movement?
- Is cooking hard because of lifting heavy pans, standing for long, or chopping?
Once you know the problem, you can look for the simplest solution. Sometimes that is a gadget. Sometimes it is a different way of doing the task, moving things to a better height, or asking for help. Our guide to joint protection for everyday tasks covers techniques that cost nothing.
Get free advice and equipment first
Before buying, check what you can get for free.
Council needs assessment
The NHS says your local council offers a free needs assessment that can recommend help, including equipment and home adaptations. Equipment and small adaptations to your home are provided free if you are assessed as needing them. Ask your council's adult social services, or apply on GOV.UK. Arrangements differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but councils or health and social care trusts offer similar assessments.
Occupational therapy
An occupational therapist (OT) can look at the tasks you find hard, suggest techniques and equipment, and sometimes provide or loan items. You may be referred through your council, GP or rheumatology team. NICE guideline NG100 recommends that people with rheumatoid arthritis who have difficulties with everyday activities have access to occupational therapy. Arthritis UK also suggests asking an OT for advice and trying products before you buy.
Pharmacist
If childproof medicine containers are a problem, Arthritis UK notes your pharmacist might be able to put medicines in a more suitable container.
Loans and second-hand
Some areas and charities offer short-term equipment loans. See our guides to short-term equipment loans and buying second-hand equipment safely.
Research impartially
The NHS points to the Living Made Easy website, the information service previously known as the Disabled Living Foundation, for an idea of the types of equipment available, what they cost and where to buy them. It also has a free self-help tool, AskSARA, that asks about the tasks you find difficult and produces a personalised advice report. These are information services, not recommendations from us.
What to look for: practical criteria
Use these questions to judge any arthritis-friendly product.
Grip and handling
- Is the handle thick, soft and non-slip, so you do not need a tight grip?
- Can you use it with your palm, or with both hands, rather than your fingers?
- Does it use a lever rather than a twist?
Weight
- Is it light enough to lift, carry and hold for the length of the task?
- For kettles, pans and jugs, how heavy is it when full?
Effort and force
- Does it reduce the force needed, for example with a ratchet, leverage or power assistance?
- Are buttons and switches large and easy to press?
Reach and posture
- Does it reduce bending, stretching or twisting?
- Is it the right length for you? Long-handled tools need to be long enough but not unwieldy.
Ease of use
- Is it simple to set up, use and clean?
- Can you manage it on a bad day, not just a good one?
- Does it need batteries or charging, and can you change or plug them in yourself?
Safety and quality
- Is it stable and well made? For anything you lean on or sit on, check the maximum user weight.
- For electrical goods, buy from a reputable seller.
- Medical devices on the Great Britain market must carry a UKCA or valid CE marking and be registered with the MHRA.
Fit with your home and life
- Will it fit in your space and be easy to store?
- Will you actually use it, or will it end up in a drawer?
Ideas by room or task
These are types of product, not brands. Arthritis UK and the NHS list similar ideas.
- Kitchen: kettle tippers or lightweight kettles, jar and bottle openers, cutlery with thick handles, easy-grip jugs and graters, cups with two handles, perching stools, lightweight pans with helper handles.
- Bathroom: non-slip mats, grab rails, raised toilet seats, lever or easy-turn taps, long-handled sponges, bath or shower seats.
- Dressing: button hooks, zip pullers, sock and tights aids, long-handled shoe horns, elastic laces.
- Getting up: bed rails, leg lifters, chair or bed raisers, riser recliner chairs.
- Around the home: reachers or pick-up sticks, laundry baskets with wheels, long-handled dustpans, rocker or touch light switches, key turners, plug grips.
- Medicines: pill removers, weekly organisers if suitable, easy-open containers from your pharmacist.
- Technology: styluses, voice assistants and dictation, phone grips and stands, ergonomic mice and keyboards, personal alarms.
Big-ticket items: stairlifts, riser chairs and adjustable beds
Larger items cost much more and are harder to return, so take extra care.
- Get an assessment first. An OT can check whether the item is right for you, the correct size and height, and whether a simpler option would work.
- Check grants. GOV.UK says you could get a Disabled Facilities Grant from your council for changes to your home, such as a stairlift, level-access shower, ramps or grab rails. GOV.UK lists grants of up to £30,000 in England, £36,000 in Wales and £25,000 in Northern Ireland, depending on household income and savings. Disabled Facilities Grants are not available in Scotland, which has separate support for equipment and adaptations. You might not get a grant if you start work before the council approves your application.
- Get more than one quote and ask what is included: delivery, installation, servicing, warranty and removal.
- Ask about VAT relief if you qualify.
- Do not sign on the spot. Take the paperwork away, talk to someone you trust, and check the cancellation terms.
Buying for someone else
If you are buying for a parent or partner, involve them in the choice. A gadget that seems helpful may not suit how they like to do things, and people are more likely to use something they chose. Let them try it, show them how it works, and be ready to return it if it does not help. If they qualify for VAT relief, they need to make the declaration about their own condition.
Using everyday technology
Many helpful tools are already in your phone or home. Arthritis UK suggests styluses for typing, voice features for messages and searches, phone grips and stands, and smart speakers to control lights or call for help. Try free options and settings, such as larger text, voice typing and accessibility shortcuts, before buying anything extra.
Red flags: when to be wary
- Claims to cure or reverse arthritis, or to replace medical treatment.
- Vague "clinically proven" claims with no details of the evidence.
- High-pressure selling, such as "today only" prices, especially in your home or on the phone.
- Very expensive versions of simple items without a clear reason.
- No returns policy or unclear terms.
- Reviews that all sound the same or appear suddenly.
- Magnetic, copper or "energy" products making health claims. Be sceptical and talk to your GP or pharmacist before relying on them.
- Large items without an assessment, such as stairlifts, riser chairs or adjustable beds. Ask for an OT assessment first.
VAT relief for disabled people
GOV.UK says that if you are disabled or have a long-term illness, you will not be charged VAT on products designed or adapted for your own personal or domestic use. VAT relief also covers installation, repairs and maintenance, and spare parts or accessories.
- Who qualifies: for VAT purposes you are disabled or have a long-term illness if you have a physical or mental impairment that affects your ability to carry out everyday activities, or a condition that is treated as chronic sickness. GOV.UK says you do not qualify if you are elderly but not disabled, or only temporarily disabled.
- Which products: usually products designed or adapted for a disability. GOV.UK gives examples including certain adjustable beds, stairlifts, wheelchairs, alarms, and building work such as ramps or widening doors. Your supplier can tell you whether a product qualifies.
- How to claim: you need to confirm in writing that you meet the conditions. Your supplier may give you a form.
Everyday items that are not designed for disabled people, such as an ordinary kettle, do not usually qualify, even if they help.
Try before you buy
- Ask an OT whether you can try equipment, or whether a loan is available.
- Visit a mobility or independent living shop where you can handle items. Take your time and do not feel pressured.
- Ask friends or local groups what they have found useful, and whether you can try theirs.
- Check returns. GOV.UK says that when you buy online, by phone or by mail order, you usually have 14 days from receiving an item to tell the seller you want to cancel, and then another 14 days to return it, even if it is not faulty. This does not apply to some items, such as personalised or custom-made items, or sealed items that cannot be returned for health or hygiene reasons once opened.
- Faulty goods: you are entitled to a refund, repair or replacement if an item is faulty, not as described, or does not do what it is supposed to.
If something goes wrong
For consumer advice, GOV.UK lists Citizens Advice in England and Wales (0808 223 1133, or 0808 223 1144 in Welsh), Advice Direct Scotland (0808 164 6000) and Consumerline in Northern Ireland (0300 123 6262). If a medical device causes a problem or injury, you can report it to the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme.
A quick product checklist you can copy
- The task I find hard: ______________________
- Why it is hard (grip, weight, reach, standing, pain): ______________________
- Could a technique, height change or help from someone solve it? ______________________
- Have I asked about a council assessment or OT? ☐
- Products to compare (type, not brand): ______________________
- Can I try it first? ☐ Returns policy checked? ☐
- Does it qualify for VAT relief? ☐
- Will I use it on a bad day? ☐
When to get medical help
Gadgets help with tasks, but they do not treat arthritis. Speak to your GP or specialist team if everyday tasks are getting harder, pain or stiffness is increasing, or you notice new swelling, deformity or loss of grip. Get same-day help from your GP or NHS 111 for a hot, swollen joint with a fever or feeling unwell.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get arthritis gadgets for free?
Possibly. The NHS says equipment and small home adaptations are provided free if your council's needs assessment shows you need them. Ask your council for an assessment.
Do I pay VAT on disability aids?
Not if you are disabled or have a long-term illness and the product is designed or adapted for disabled people for your own personal or domestic use. You need to confirm this in writing.
Where can I compare equipment impartially?
The NHS points to the Living Made Easy website, which lists types of equipment, costs and where to buy them, and has the AskSARA self-help tool.
Can I return a gadget I bought online if it does not help?
Usually, yes. GOV.UK says you have 14 days after receiving it to cancel, then 14 days to return it. Some items, such as custom-made or sealed hygiene products, are excluded unless faulty.
Why don't you recommend specific brands?
We have not tested products, and the right item depends on your joints, home and tasks. We do not use affiliate links or star ratings.
Who can help me choose?
An occupational therapist is the best person to assess what will help. Ask your council, GP or rheumatology team about a referral.
Sources and further reading
- GOV.UK: VAT relief for disabled people
- GOV.UK: Accepting returns and giving refunds
- GOV.UK: Consumer rights
- GOV.UK: Disabled Facilities Grants
- NHS: Household gadgets and equipment to make life easier
- Arthritis UK: Aids and adaptations
- Living Made Easy
- MHRA: Regulating medical devices in the UK
- MHRA: Yellow Card scheme
- NICE NG100: Rheumatoid arthritis in adults
Educational information for people in the United Kingdom, not personal medical, legal or financial advice. NHS processes, rules and prices change, so check the linked official sources and speak to your GP, specialist team or pharmacist about your own situation. Charity no. 1218461. Pending clinical review. If you feel very unwell, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent advice, contact NHS 111.
Continue with related help
- Choosing mobility aids — sticks to scooters
- Choosing shoes for arthritis — fit and support
- Bed levers — getting in and out of bed
- Occupational therapy for hand pain — what an OT can do