Published 27 April 2026 · Last updated 25 August 2026
| Photo | Title | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxo 1173600 Mobility Aid Bottle Opener with Handle | £17.98 |
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Why Grip Strength Matters
Reduced grip strength is one of the earliest and most frustrating effects of arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, stroke, and general ageing. Everyday tasks like opening jars, turning keys, gripping pens, unscrewing bottles, and holding cutlery become painful or impossible. Research shows that grip strength also serves as a general marker of overall health in older adults. The good news is that a wide range of affordable aids can compensate for reduced grip and keep you independent.
Jar and Bottle Openers
Rubber grip sheets and mats: The simplest solution. A textured rubber mat placed over the lid provides enough extra friction for many people to open jars. They also work under chopping boards and mixing bowls to stop them sliding. Costs just £2-5.
Under-cabinet jar openers: Mount beneath a wall cabinet. You wedge the jar lid into a V-shaped grip and twist the jar body to open. They work with one hand and handle a wide range of lid sizes. The Zim jar opener is a popular, affordable option (£8-15).
Electric jar openers: Battery or mains-powered devices that grip the lid and twist it automatically. You simply place the device on the jar and press a button. The Hamilton Beach OpenEase and the One Touch automatic opener are well-reviewed models (£15-30).
Strap wrenches: An adjustable rubber strap wraps around any size lid and provides a long handle for use. Good for bottles, tins with pull-rings, and wide-mouth jars. Around £5-10.
Key Turners and Door Handle Aids
Key turners: A chunky handle that clips onto your key, turning a small, fiddly key into a large, easy-to-grip lever. Essential for people who struggle to grip and turn standard Yale or mortice keys. Costs from £3-8. Some models hold multiple keys.
Door handle aids: Lever attachments that clip onto round doorknobs, converting them to lever handles that can be pushed down with a palm or forearm rather than gripped and twisted. From £5-15. For a permanent solution, replacing round knobs with lever handles costs around £15-30 per door.
Writing and Pen Grips
Triangular or cushioned pen grips slide onto any standard pen or pencil to make them thicker and softer. Weighted pens help people with tremors write more steadily. Ergonomic pens like the PenAgain and Yoropen are angled to reduce wrist strain. For signing documents, a thick-barrel marker pen is often easier than a ballpoint.
General Grip Aids
Dycem non-slip material: A versatile non-slip mat available in sheets, rolls, and pre-cut circles. Place it under plates to stop them sliding, wrap it around tool handles for grip, or use it on trays to prevent items moving. From £5-15.
Silicone grip tubing: Slip this over handles of tools, cutlery, toothbrushes, and garden implements to create a thick, cushioned, non-slip grip. Available in different diameters and sold by the metre. Around £3-8 per length.
Where to Buy
Most items are available from Ability Superstore, Complete Care Shop, Amazon, and the Disabled Living Foundation shop. Many are also stocked in pharmacies and supermarkets (particularly OXO Good Grips products). All aids bought for a qualifying disability are VAT-exempt.
Frequently asked questions
Which jar opener works best for arthritic hands?
The ones that need no grip at all. A clamp under a wall cabinet or an electric opener does the work for you, whereas a rubber cone or a strap wrench still needs you to squeeze and twist. If grip strength is the problem, buy the type that removes the squeeze rather than the type that improves it.
Do electric jar openers fit every lid?
No. Most cover a range of common lid diameters and struggle at the extremes, so check the stated minimum and maximum against the jars you actually buy. Very small lids on spice jars and very large ones on catering sized jars are the usual failures.
What about bottles and ring pulls?
They are different problems needing different tools. A ring pull opener gives you a hook and a lever so you never have to get a fingernail under the tab, and a multi opener usually covers screw caps, ring pulls and bottle tops in one handle. Buy for the specific closure that defeats you.
Is there a technique that helps without buying anything?
Running the lid under hot water expands the metal, tapping the edge breaks the vacuum seal, and gripping with a rubber glove or a silicone mat adds friction. These genuinely work, and they are worth trying before spending, though none of them help if grip strength is the real issue.
Can I get grip aids free?
Small kitchen aids are sometimes supplied after an occupational therapy assessment through your council. They are cheap enough that most people buy them, but the assessment is worth having because an OT will spot the ten other things in the kitchen that could be easier.
Are these useful after a stroke or with one hand?
Very. The clamp under a cabinet is the key item for one handed work, because it holds the jar so your working hand can turn it. Pair it with a non slip mat and a spiked chopping board and most of the kitchen becomes possible again.
Sources & Useful Resources
If gripping cutlery is also a problem, see our guide to the best adaptive cutlery.
Published 27 April 2026 · Last updated 25 August 2026