Door knob grips: What tool will help my client grip standard round door knobs more easily?

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What tool will help my client grip standard round door knobs more easily?

Question

My 84-year-old client is fairly mobile; however, he has limited hand mobility, which makes it difficult for him to turn the door knobs inside his house. Do you know if there is a device that will make it easier for him to grip onto and turn door knobs?

Our answer

It can be very challenging to turn doorknobs if you have a condition that causes weakness or limited mobility in the hands or wrists. Thankfully, there are a number of commercially-available door knob grips, which are designed to provide extra grip or leverage by simply attaching to your existing door knob. Below are direct links to some examples of such products:

  • EZ Doorknob Grips by Able Life (at Amazon Canada) are designed to make gripping and turning a doorknob easier for those with arthritis or who have limited hand mobility. This product, which easily snaps onto a doorknob, includes two door knob grips and costs about $17 (CDN), plus a shipping fee.
  • Sammons Preston Rubber Doorknob Extension Handle (at Amazon Canada) is a soft, rubber lever that easily attaches to a round doorknob (measuring two inches by two inches), making it easier to turn and open. This product costs about $30 (CDN), plus a shipping fee. 
  • Great Grips 2-Lever Door Knob Gripper, by Stander Inc.Great Grips Doorknob Gripper by Stander (at AthritisSupplies.com) is a lever that provides extra gripping power to individuals with hand conditions that cause weakness to use doorknobs. In fact, these grippers allow you to open the door with the touch of a finger, a closed fist or an elbow. This product, which is easy to install, is available from a U.S. retailer and costs about $10 to $15 (USD), plus a shipping fee.

If your client has someone who can help with installation, lever-style door handles are also available for $20 to $60 (CDN) from home improvement stores such as Home Depot. This style of door handle is often much more accessible for people who have challenges with hand mobility.

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