Reachers, Grabbers and Dressing Aids: A Buying Guide

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

A reacher (also called a grabber) picks things up without bending or stretching, and simple dressing aids such as sock aids, long shoe horns and button hooks help you dress without help. Most cost under £15, and they are often supplied free after a hip or knee operation.

Who they help

Anyone who finds bending, reaching or fine finger work difficult: people with stiff hips, knees or back, arthritis in the hands, breathlessness, dizziness on bending, or those recovering from surgery. They also reduce the temptation to climb on a chair or lean over too far, both of which can lead to a fall.

Reachers and grabbers

A reacher is a light stick with a trigger at one end and a pair of jaws at the other. The main differences are:

• Length — commonly around 65cm (26 inches) or 80cm (32 inches). Longer reaches further from a chair or the floor but is harder to control and feels heavier at the tip.
• Jaws — rubber-lined or suction-cup jaws grip smooth items; some have a magnet for pins and keys, and a small hook for pulling clothing.
• Trigger — a full-hand trigger is easier than a one-finger trigger if grip is weak. Some lock closed so you do not have to keep squeezing.
• Folding models — fit in a bag or on a walking frame.
• Rotating heads — let you turn the jaws for awkward angles.

Reachers are for light things: post from the mat, a dropped remote, clothes from the washing machine. They are not built for heavy tins or full bottles from a high shelf.

Dressing aids

• Sock aids — a flexible gutter or frame that holds the sock open. You slide your foot in and pull the cords to draw the sock up, with no need to reach your toes. Separate, wider versions are made for tights and for compression stockings.
• Long-handled shoe horns — 40cm to 60cm or more, to ease your heel into a shoe while sitting upright.
• Elastic laces — turn lace-up shoes into slip-ons that still hold the foot firmly.
• Button hooks and zip pullers — a wire loop on a chunky handle that draws a button through its hole; many have a hook on the other end for zips.
• Dressing sticks — a stick with a hook to push clothes off the shoulders or pull trousers up.
• Long-handled sponges, combs and toe washers — for washing and grooming without stretching.
• Leg lifters — a stiffened strap with a loop to lift a weak leg onto the bed or a footstool.

What to look for

• Weight: lighter is easier to hold out at arm's length.
• A trigger that suits your grip. Try squeezing it if you can.
• For sock aids: the right width for your calf, and a non-slip outer with a smooth inner so the sock stays put while your foot slides in.
• For compression stockings, a purpose-made stocking applicator, not an ordinary sock aid.
• Handles that are thick and non-slip.
• A wrist loop or clip so you can hang it where you need it.

Rough price guide

Safety points and mistakes to avoid

• Do not use a reacher for heavy, hot or breakable items above head height.
• Sit down to put on socks, shoes and trousers. A firm chair with arms is safest.
• If you have been told to follow movement restrictions after a hip operation, use the aids exactly as your therapist showed you.
• Buy two reachers rather than carrying one around: one upstairs, one down. If you drop your only reacher, you cannot pick it up.
• Do not buy a bundle if you only need one item.

Getting them free

If you are having a planned hip or knee replacement, the hospital therapy team will usually talk to you about managing at home, and many hospitals supply or lend a reacher, sock aid and long shoe horn. Ask at your pre-operative appointment what your hospital provides. Otherwise, a council needs assessment can lead to equipment being provided; in England anything you are assessed as needing that costs under £1,000 is free. Apply through GOV.UK or by ringing your council.

Related guides

Our guides to preventing falls at home, bed rails and bed aids and raised toilet seats cover other equipment often needed at the same time. If you are buying for a relative, see shopping for someone else.

Common questions

What length of reacher should I buy?

For picking things up from the floor while standing or seated, around 65cm suits most people. Choose about 80cm if you are tall, use a wheelchair, or cannot bend at all. Longer models are harder to control.

Do sock aids work with tights or compression stockings?

Ordinary sock aids struggle with both. Look for an aid made for tights, or a frame-style applicator designed for compression hosiery. Your pharmacist or nurse can advise on stockings.

Can a reacher help me get dressed?

Yes. Many people use one to pull trousers or underwear up over their feet to knee height. A dressing stick does the same job with a hook.

Are these aids available on prescription?

Not usually on an NHS prescription, but they are commonly supplied by hospital or council occupational therapy services after an assessment.