Devices Offering Great Solutions (DOGS)

Eating Utensils

June 3, 2021 / Alanna Raffel / No Comments

Tools like knives, spoons, and forks to help people eat by themselves

What does it do?

Adaptive eating utensils can help people eat more independently. These tools may help people with tremors, hand or arm weakness, limb differences, difficulty with fine motor control, or pain. Adaptive eating tools might have clips or straps and be larger, weighted, or angled.

What kinds of adaptive eating utensils are there?

Built-Up Handles

Utensils with built up handles may help someone with difficulty grasping eat more independently. (DIY Option: foam hair curlers)

Bendable/Curved Handles

Curved handles may help someone eat independently if they have decreased range of motion and difficulty moving their wrist, arm, or hand.

Universal Cuff

A universal cuff fastens around the hand and holds cutlery to make eating easier for people with weak or limited grasp. (DIY Option: Instamorph moldable plastic)

Weighted Utensils

Weighted utensils may stabilize tremors for more independent eating.

Electronic Self Stabilizing Utensils

These utensils use a computerized handle that keeps cutlery level and adapts to range of motion for people with limited hand or arm mobility to help them eat more easily. One example is Liftware.

S’up Spoon

A tippable spoon reduces spilling while eating for someone with tremors.

Plate Guard

Plate guards help someone with a limb difference or difficulty with coordination scoop food off their plate more independently.

No Slip Bowls and Plates

Non-slip material stabilizes the bowl on the table to help someone eat by themselves. You can also a non-slip material called Dycem to help stabilize an item on the table.

Rocker Knife

Rocker knives make cutting food easier and safer, particularly for someone with one hand or with less dexterity or strength.

Obi Robotic Eating Device

The Obi is a switch-controlled robotic device for people who need help feeding themselves.

Stable Slide Self Feeding Support

Supports someone’s arm during eating if they need help stabilizing it or holding it up in a feeding position.

Cups/Mugs

Consider options like the nosey cup, a wide base, a weighted base, or two handles.

Fork held by a 3D printed cuff

How do I see what's new?

Technology changes all the time. To find out about the latest options for these, you can type keywords into a search engine such as Google, Safari, Firefox, or Bing on a computer or tablet. These are the keywords for this type of item:

adaptive eating tools, eating aids, assistive eating tools, self-feeding

How do I find out more?

If you live in the US outside of Pennsylvania you would need to find your state's AT program.

If you live in Pennsylvania:

  • you could contact TechOWL to work with a specialist. We can meet with you and sometimes demonstrate this equipment. We can also help with different ways to get one for your own.
  • you might borrow this equipment to try out. Do we have this in our lending library?

Yes

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Alanna Raffel

Alanna Raffel is an occupational therapist. She has worked in a variety of settings including acute rehab, outpatient pediatrics, early intervention, and schools. She is passionate about accessibility and loves discovering and making new tools that promote independence. Alanna enjoys making assistive technology using her sewing machine and 3D printer.

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