If you’re short like me, it’s difficult to reach high shelves in cabinets.

When you need to grab the oatmeal or coffee from a high shelf in the morning or put away groceries when you get home from the store, it can be a real challenge.

You may be able to stand on your toes to reach some items. But those items that are pushed back a little from the edge or are on the top shelf? There’s no way you can reach them on your own.

The Wrong Way for Seniors to Reaching High Shelves

To solve the problem, I used to pull over a chair and climb on that. But doing that isn’t very safe, and chairs are too high for me to climb on now. Climbing on a chair puts me at risk for falling.

So, then I got in the habit of pulling out a stepstool and climbing up that to reach those upper cabinet shelves.

Climbing up one step isn’t bad, but when I have to climb up to the second step to reach what I need, my ankles get a little shaky, and I worry, rightly so, about falling.

Reacher Grabber Tools to Reach Top Shelves Safely

Fortunately, I’ve found a better solution – using a grabber / reacher to reach and grip items up high without climbing on a stepstool.

I’ve tried three different types of tools. Two worked well.

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This first grabber reacher I bought wasn’t strong enough to lift everything – plus it was too long. When I did pickup things with it, I found it was difficult for me to stretch my arm far enough to reach the end of the grabber to retrieve the item.

The second reacher I bought was much better. It was sturdier and a little shorter.

It has a wider opening, so it fits around and retrieves many items.  But closing my hand around the handle and pressing the lever to make it grip things can be difficult on the days my arthritis is acting up.

Fortunately, I’ve found something that works even better for me.

Kitchen tongs.

They let me reach up to the top shelf just like the reacher/grabber does.

And, I can open and close them like a pair of scissors. Thats easier for me to do than to push down on the lever of the reacher grabber to make it grip something.

Plus, when I’m done with the tongs, I can put them back in the kitchen drawer out of site.

While these tools work to get most things in and out of the closets, they really aren’t suitable for getting breakable and heavy items down.

For those tasks, I still use a step stool to reach high shelves (or call over a tall family member or friend.)