Sammons Presto Ergo Reacher Review

Tools are extremely important for caregiving and for seniors. Some help to increase the seniors independence, some provide the caregiver with extra support, and many are relevant in both areas.

Yet, tools are often ignored. Caregivers often don’t realize what is out there or how much difference simple tools can make. I’m all too familiar with that issue – I did the same thing myself when I was a caregiver.

That’s why we’re starting a series of product reviews and discussions at Kapok. Some posts will simply talk about a product or a set of products. Others, like this current post, will review an item that I’ve used myself.

To kick things off is this Sammons Preston Ergo Reacher Review.

I chose this device because of my own history. My former partner used one periodically when I was his caregiver, while his mother used one extensively. This time, I got one of my own to test out.

In Brief

My Full Sammons Preston Ergo Reacher Review

Key Stats:

• 26″ reaching aid (other sizes available)
• Weighs 7.2 oz
• Jaws open to 3″ in width
• Can pick up and hold items weighing 1 lb or less

The first thing I noticed with the research was the design. The piece is certainly made with its purpose in mind. I particularly liked how easy the handle was to hold and how the claw could be manipulated.

It takes a little practice, but picking up small items isn’t difficult. The claw holds its grip well too, so items tend to stay put.

Of course, the design won’t work for everything. It can also be a little fiddly when you first get started, as the video below shows. In that case, the remote was a little stuck, which is why it took me so many tries to pick it up.

The marketing suggests that the tool can hold up to a pound in weight.

I tried this out in the video below and the weight limit feels about right. The bottle I used weighs roughly a pound, so it was a good test.

I didn’t notice any issues with holding the bottle and the tool seemed sturdy enough at that weight. I suspect that you could probably hold heavier objects too, at a pinch.

Still, I didn’t recommend it. I personally found that holding the bottle in the reacher was difficult on my wrists. This issue could be much worse for anyone with arthritic joints.

Advantages

• The overall style works well. The reacher is easy to use and the grabbing part really does hold onto objects effectively.
• The plastic on the pickup claw isn’t slippery, so it grips items effectively.
• It is inexpensive.
• The tool really can make a large difference. Being able to reach items strongly promotes independence.
• The magnetic aspect works well.
• There is (meant to be!) a clip for attaching the reacher to wheelchairs, walkers and the like. A pulling lug is also included, to help pull items closer to the user.

Limitations

• The quality isn’t amazing. You get what you pay for in this regard. It’s a decent enough item that does the job well, but don’t expect something that will last you years.
• The foldable aspect of this piece is nice, but not extremely effective. For one thing, the reacher isn’t that much smaller when folded. It’s still bulky and would be too large for plenty of bags. It’s also fairly difficult to get the piece back together effectively. It took me a few tries to do so – and the issue would be much worse for seniors.

• The tool isn’t especially strong. It’s best for lightweight items. The sellers recommend using it for objects that weigh 1 pound or less.
• The reacher uses a string, which is exposed when the piece is folded. It can sometimes become knotted or damaged, making the entire tool useless.
• There is no way to keep the claw closed while carrying, which seems odd.
• While the magnet works, it isn’t very strong. As such, it may not be effective on all metal objects.

Personal Perspectives

There are many gimmicky products out there, but the Sammons Preston Ergo Reach isn’t one of them. The reacher is fairly well-designed and it does its job well.

The tool also does its job well. It’s very good around the home. I imagine it would be perfect for people who struggle with moving or bending over.

I’ve also seen a tool like this used in practice. The ability to grab light items while seated and standing can be amazing. This includes things like grabbing the television remote or picking up a dropped pair of reading glasses.

From my experiences with this piece, and in the past, I would recommend the tool. It is inexpensive for the benefits that it offers and would be suitable in many households.

That being said, I noticed some key issues too.

• While the reacher is portable – I wasn’t very impressed with that aspect.
• The inability to keep the claw closed makes it frustrating to carry.
• The foldable feature doesn’t work well either. Honestly, it’s not worth the effort to fold it up, especially as the piece is still bulky either way.
• While there is meant to be a pulling lug and a clip to attach the reacher to wheelchairs and the like, my version had neither.

Your expectations also matter.

• The reacher works perfectly for many household uses, including picking up clothing or dropped items.
• But, it is light and isn’t incredibly strong. You’re not going to be able to pick up heavy items with it.
• The piece won’t be resilient either. It’s a fairly inexpensive tool for general use around the house, so there is the risk of breakage over time. It would normally be worth having a backup version to prevent any issues.

Will It Make Things Worse?

One concern is that tools like this will make health issues worse. After all, using a tool to reach items may mean that seniors move around less often. Doing so could easily lead to reduced physical fitness, more health problems and greater dependence over time.

The concern is reasonable. Tools like this may not be suitable for seniors that have few movement problems.

However, if reaching presents any type of health concern (such as increasing the risk of falls), then a tool like this can be extremely helpful. Concerns about activity levels can be easily addressed by safe exercise approaches, including chair yoga and Zumba.

Besides that, reachers will often make health better, not worse. They can help promote senior independence, giving them the chance to do more things on their own.

Final Thoughts

Reachers like this one are inexpensive products that can make a huge difference. This is true even for seniors who are relatively active and healthy. If nothing else, the tool makes it easy to get things from hard-to-reach places, without increasing the fall risk.