Three assistive devices that make everyday life easier – simple and effective

Sometimes it is not major innovations that make the biggest difference, but solutions for small everyday challenges. Whether it is mobility, daily routines, or body awareness, startups are developing assistive devices that support independence in practical ways. Three examples show how grounded in everyday life these ideas can be.

In brief: everyday assistive solutions with real impact

Solutions for common everyday situations – from mobility and daily routines to body awareness
Support greater independence without complex technology
Developed from and together with the lived experiences of users

Freihandband: freeing up your hands in everyday life

I already found it incredibly empowering to be able to open doors on my own again. Before that, it was something I usually needed help with. Now I can briefly rest the crutches against my hips and do many things independently again.

I no longer have to ask for help as often, because I can keep my crutches together myself. Since I can place both crutches around my body using the strap, I’m also able to go shopping more independently.

The crutches tipped over much less in everyday life, and the exercises with them were also incredibly helpful. Even my physical therapist noticed that I was making greater progress because I was able to do more on my own at home.

A person is holding a smartphone in both hands. The crutches are connected by a strap and resting against the body.

The strap connects the two crutches and allows you to rest them against your body hands-free. © Kilian Attinger / @dasFreihandband

Anyone who relies on forearm crutches knows the problem: your hands are constantly occupied in everyday life. Even simple things like opening a door, paying at the checkout, or greeting someone quickly become a challenge. On top of that, crutches tend to fall over, meaning you have to bend down or ask for help in an already limited situation.

The Freihandband connects the crutches in a way that allows them to rest against the body or hang to the side. As soon as you are standing, your hands are free – without having to put the crutches down completely.

The solution was developed by Kilian Attinger, who has himself relied on crutches multiple times. The idea grew out of personal experience: "Crutches should support you – not become an additional burden."

The Freihandband is designed for people who rely on crutches either temporarily or long term. The goal is to make everyday situations more manageable and independent again – without adding extra barriers.

What makes it effective is its ease of use in everyday life: it works without requiring any adjustment and addresses exactly those moments when an extra hand is needed – opening doors, paying, or simply whenever both hands are required. As Kilian Attinger puts it: "No more falling crutches – and fewer tripping hazards in everyday life."

Zeitkompass: structuring everyday life in a clear and accessible way

A person is using a tablet with an app that displays the daily schedule using icons

Daily routines are created individually in the app and displayed on a smartwatch or tablet throughout the day. © INCLUSYS

For many people, time is not simply about reading the clock – it is about understanding what happens next, when it is their turn, and how long something will take.

The Zeitkompass, a digital assistive system for structuring daily routines by INCLUSYS, supports exactly this by making daily activities visible and easier to understand. It is designed for people with cognitive disabilities – for example, those on the autism spectrum, with Down syndrome, or with dementia. At the same time, it can also be helpful for anyone who finds it difficult to understand clock time or traditional calendars.

Using an app and a smartwatch, individual activities are displayed through symbols – for example, with images, emojis, or METACOM symbols. These are combined with vibration, voice output, and visual cues that signal what comes next.

In everyday life, this means that instead of relying on clock times, the Zeitkompass shows what is happening right now – for example, "Now it’s breakfast" or "Now it’s time for school". The daily schedule is created in advance and can be fully tailored to the individual.

This is especially helpful for recurring routines. Tasks such as brushing teeth, tidying up, or transitioning to the next activity are clearly structured and easy to follow. Questions like "What’s next?" or "How much longer?" can be answered at a glance.

For many users, this provides a greater sense of security and supports independence in everyday life. At the same time, the Zeitkompass can also relieve family members and caregivers, as fewer reminders and explanations are needed.

BladderMate: when the right moment becomes predictable again

A wearable sensor attached to the lower abdomen with a fabric strap. Next to it, a smartphone displays the corresponding app.

The sensor and app work together: The bladder's fill level is detected and displayed digitally. © inContAlert

For many people, the biggest challenge is not bladder emptying itself, but the moment before it. Those who cannot reliably sense the urge to urinate often live with uncertainty in everyday life: Is there still enough time? Is the bladder already full? Or is it already too late?

The BladderMate wearable by inContAlert is designed to help better estimate that moment. The sensor is worn on the lower abdomen and monitors bladder fullness, providing timely alerts when it is advisable to empty the bladder. The goal is to enable greater predictability and confidence in everyday life.

The solution is primarily aimed at people with neurogenic bladder dysfunction – for example due to spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or after a stroke. For them, this natural feedback from the body is often missing.

After several years of development, the system is now being tested in real-life settings for the first time. Initial users are already part of clinical field trials, and feedback has been consistently constructive: the system is well accepted, works reliably, and can be used independently.

How significant the difference can be in everyday life is reflected in the feedback from an early adopter:

For people without bladder sensation, the BladderMate is an absolute game changer. Knowing again when you really need to go to the bathroom is a life improvement that no one can fully understand unless they have experienced it.

Of course, the BladderMate is still in its early stages, but it is already very advanced, and inContAlert is clearly doing everything they can to continue improving it. Many thanks to the team for helping to make everyday life so much easier.

Small solutions, meaningful impact in everyday life

Whether it is mobility, daily routines, or body awareness, these examples show how different everyday challenges can be. And how targeted, well-designed solutions can address exactly where support is truly needed.

What they all have in common is that they are shaped by real-life experiences and guided by what actually works in everyday situations. Not as abstract innovations, but as practical support – often subtle, yet with a noticeable impact.

These are exactly the kinds of ideas that find their place at REHACARE. The START-UP AREA gives them a platform – and highlights how closely these developments are aligned with real needs.

Nadine Lormis smiles in to the camera; Copyright: Victoria Emanuel

Author: Nadine Lormis | REHACARE eMag

Nadine Lormis has been writing about (digital) developments in the assistive technology sector, self-determined living and inclusion for over 15 years. As editorial director of the REHACARE eMag, she is closely networked with the community of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses – both professionally and personally.

Published on: May 11, 2026