The longitudinal Intervention Study of the Elderly in Göteborg, Sweden (IVEG), has provided an opportunity to report on the use of assistive devices in activities of daily living (ADL) in a subsample of elderly persons living in their own homes, who were interviewed at the ages of 70 and 76 (n = 371). Type, frequency, usage rate and effectiveness of assistive devices was studied among all 76-year-olds involved in the IVEG study (n = 595). One-fifth at the age of 70 and almost half of the population at 76 had assistive devices, most frequently in connection with bathing and mobility. A higher percentage of females and subjects living alone used assistive devices compared to men and cohabitants. The longitudinal study showed that 31% developed a need for assistive devices between 70 and 76 years of age, 15% used assistive devices both at 70 and 76 years, while 50% had no devices at 70 or at 76 years of age. The usage rate was high (90%), and a high degree of effectiveness was found, particularly in the form of an increment in safety and a decrement in effort in the various activities.