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irisblue

(37,577 posts)
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 12:43 PM Jan 2026

I need to buy a 'grabber for seniors' advice on what other got & liked.

--A grabber for seniors, also known as a reacher or picker-upper, is a handheld assistive tool with a trigger-operated claw (or jaws) at one end, used to extend reach and pick up objects without bending or stretching, helping those with limited mobility, arthritis, or low strength maintain independence for items on the floor, high shelves, or under furniture. -- from google


I went to pick up a package on the front porch and almost toppled to the concrete.

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I need to buy a 'grabber for seniors' advice on what other got & liked. (Original Post) irisblue Jan 2026 OP
Shoot. I could use one to take to the grocery store for all those things on damned high shelves! hlthe2b Jan 2026 #1
Not sure the 1 I bought would be sturdy enough, esp for heavy items SheltieLover Jan 2026 #12
I ordered this one & it works very well SheltieLover Jan 2026 #2
That looks like a good one cyclonefence Jan 2026 #3
Thx. I ordered one. irisblue Jan 2026 #5
Yw, Iris SheltieLover Jan 2026 #9
My walker is red, so I got a coordinating one irisblue Jan 2026 #28
I hope it's a great match! SheltieLover Jan 2026 #30
I just remembered, George McGovern's old post pointed me to this yseful little gadget. SheltieLover Jan 2026 #11
Is it easy to squeeze? quaint Jan 2026 #6
Yes. Very easy to squeeze. SheltieLover Jan 2026 #7
Thanks! quaint Jan 2026 #13
Yw! SheltieLover Jan 2026 #15
I did order it. Pink. quaint Jan 2026 #20
What brand is your heavy duty one? SheltieLover Jan 2026 #21
It's an EZPIK. quaint Jan 2026 #22
Thx! Nice gift! SheltieLover Jan 2026 #23
Just arrived. Works good. quaint Jan 2026 #37
So happy you like it! SheltieLover Jan 2026 #38
I ordered one similar while I was recovering from bypass surgery. LuvLoogie Jan 2026 #10
I don't think this one would be good for heavy things either SheltieLover Jan 2026 #14
This is the one we use (we have one for each of us) Dave in VA Jan 2026 #16
I find mine useful, too. Do you use yours for heavy objects? SheltieLover Jan 2026 #17
It's limited to the width of the grabber Dave in VA Jan 2026 #19
LOL SheltieLover Jan 2026 #39
We have several Deep State Witch Jan 2026 #4
Did you try a medical supplies store? My old Right Aid used to sell medical supplies. I bought my cane from there. Also debm55 Jan 2026 #8
Designed for heavy duty tasks: Donkees Jan 2026 #18
The angle of this image is intimidating irisblue Jan 2026 #32
I got mine from Dollar Tree. Collimator Jan 2026 #24
Make sure you look it over carefully. pandr32 Jan 2026 #25
Every senior move I do almost all the seniors have these grabbers and use them all the time kimbutgar Jan 2026 #26
Try home depot, Harbor Freight or Amazon Historic NY Jan 2026 #27
I suggest a 6'2" model, male, maybe a 2001 year, trained in electrical and plumbing... ret5hd Jan 2026 #29
It is too late in life for me to adopt a child irisblue Jan 2026 #31
HEH Skittles Jan 2026 #36
We have one but honestly, I'm so old we just order groceries and have them delivered to our door. CTyankee Jan 2026 #33
I specify to put all packages on the wheelchair ramp NOT the front porch irisblue Jan 2026 #34
Same here with grocery orders. SheltieLover Jan 2026 #40
I have one JUST LIKE THIS some_of_us_are_sane Jan 2026 #35

hlthe2b

(114,058 posts)
1. Shoot. I could use one to take to the grocery store for all those things on damned high shelves!
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 12:45 PM
Jan 2026

Instead I climb up on the shelves knowing full well, one day that will be a bad decision.

Hopefully someone can recommend one for you. Good luck.

cyclonefence

(5,151 posts)
3. That looks like a good one
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 12:55 PM
Jan 2026

and I'm going to order one today. I have a couple of lightweight ones in different rooms to use for stuff like picking up dropped Kleenex or newspapers. They're no big deal to slide under the edge of a chair for storage, so I think it's useful to have a few around the house.

SheltieLover

(80,782 posts)
9. Yw, Iris
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:11 PM
Jan 2026

I hope you like yours as much as I like mine.

What color did you choose?

I got a purple one.

SheltieLover

(80,782 posts)
11. I just remembered, George McGovern's old post pointed me to this yseful little gadget.
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:12 PM
Jan 2026

Ty, George.

SheltieLover

(80,782 posts)
7. Yes. Very easy to squeeze.
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:07 PM
Jan 2026

The grabber ends do not align perfectly, but well enough to grab a chain on an overhead light.

quaint

(5,112 posts)
20. I did order it. Pink.
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:39 PM
Jan 2026

Last edited Mon Jan 5, 2026, 09:52 PM - Edit history (1)

I have a heavy duty model that I have problems squeezing so don't use it much. Lately, I've been playing cat and knocking stuff down when I finger pull to the edge of the shelf. 🙄

SheltieLover

(80,782 posts)
23. Thx! Nice gift!
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:50 PM
Jan 2026

Maybe you could oil it or put a different spring or something in it so you can use it?

LuvLoogie

(8,826 posts)
10. I ordered one similar while I was recovering from bypass surgery.
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:11 PM
Jan 2026

I still use it as I'm short. I might get another that is stronger, though. I find mine doesn't have a strong enough grip for anything over a couple pounds.

Dave in VA

(2,286 posts)
16. This is the one we use (we have one for each of us)
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:32 PM
Jan 2026

Had it a couple of years now. Use it to pick up small twigs in the yard, get things I drop, etc. Highly recommend!

Dave in VA

(2,286 posts)
19. It's limited to the width of the grabber
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:37 PM
Jan 2026

but I really haven't found anything that I couldn't use it to pick up. (But I don't have any gold bars in the house )

Deep State Witch

(12,728 posts)
4. We have several
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 12:57 PM
Jan 2026

Because we have high ceilings. We have 2 upstairs and one downstairs. We love them.

debm55

(60,957 posts)
8. Did you try a medical supplies store? My old Right Aid used to sell medical supplies. I bought my cane from there. Also
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:10 PM
Jan 2026

Amazon. Wish you luck.

Collimator

(2,123 posts)
24. I got mine from Dollar Tree.
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:51 PM
Jan 2026

Obviously, it's not a heavy duty model, but it works for my needs. Given the price point, having one in several locations is an added convenience. With scissors, I have one in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and dining area pass-through. Why go hunting when you can just have one easily to hand?

pandr32

(14,295 posts)
25. Make sure you look it over carefully.
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:54 PM
Jan 2026

There is so much crap on the market that doesn't work well. My husband bought me one at the local hardware store when my broken arms were healing and it looks like it would work, but won't even pick up a sock.

kimbutgar

(27,288 posts)
26. Every senior move I do almost all the seniors have these grabbers and use them all the time
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 01:56 PM
Jan 2026

I have a couple of them myself and use them sometimes also. Great invention for everyone not just seniors !

Historic NY

(40,053 posts)
27. Try home depot, Harbor Freight or Amazon
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 02:05 PM
Jan 2026

Amazon has a variety of them extendable and foldable . Don't buy a cheap one they are junk. I have one to reach top shelfs where I stock paper towels and toilet tissue. They come in handy for Dropped items in unreachable places.

Search Amazon best grabber tool for seniors

ret5hd

(22,512 posts)
29. I suggest a 6'2" model, male, maybe a 2001 year, trained in electrical and plumbing...
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 02:16 PM
Jan 2026

handy for everything...moving, reaching, fixing.

Skittles

(171,884 posts)
36. HEH
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 09:19 PM
Jan 2026

from the subject line I thought it meant for the supermarket - I cannot bring myself to walk around with a geezer grabber so I rely on tall people to get me products from those high shelves - I have found that tall folk tend to be quite nice about it, I truly appreciate them

CTyankee

(68,254 posts)
33. We have one but honestly, I'm so old we just order groceries and have them delivered to our door.
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 04:25 PM
Jan 2026

It's an extra cost but we don't order too much as we are in a retirement village and have our dinner meal included. So all we need are some cans of soup for lunch and condiments and napkins/paper towels for our tiny little kitchenette in our apartment.

irisblue

(37,577 posts)
34. I specify to put all packages on the wheelchair ramp NOT the front porch
Mon Jan 5, 2026, 05:16 PM
Jan 2026

The wally world people put it on the front porch & that involves a 6 inch step; some days that 6 inches may as well be 6 feet, today was that day.

I called a neighbor & he sent his kids over to help me. I got wonderful neighbors. The box has been unpacked.
Arthritis and aging sucks somedays

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