How can arthritis aids make daily living easier?

Arthritis home care aids make doing everyday things easier and less painful. Home care aids can preserve energy and protect the joints from damage.

People with arthritis and damaged joints often experience pain and difficulty when:

•  Opening tins
•  Buttoning clothes
•  Turning keys
•  Grasping objects
•  Preparing food

People with arthritis may benefit from a walking aid or walking frame. Ageing people with joint deformity and joint pain can have problems bending, changing position or getting up and down. A physiotherapist can recommend suitable walking aids and walking frames.

Arthritis aids for personal hygiene

Showering and dressing can be difficult for an ageing person with limited range of motion and joint deformity. For some people bathing can become unsafe. Raised toilet seats and grab rails are essential home care aids for ageing people who have problems getting on and off the toilet. A grab rail, shower seat and hand held shower hose would make showering safer and easier.

Ease the pain of getting dressed in the morning by using these essential home care aids:

•  A Reacher (to grab things that are out of reach, pick things up off the floor or out of the cupboard)
•  Raised toilet seat (to ease the discomfort of getting on and off a low toilet seat)
•  Long handled sponge (to wash unreachable areas such as the feet and back)
•  Dressing stick (to retrieve clothes from the cupboard, pull up pants and socks)
•  Shoe horn (slide the foot into a shoe without bending over)
•  Button hooks (to help with poor dexterity and small button holes) 

Arthritis aids for the kitchen

Preparing and cooking meals can be difficult for ageing people with pain in the joints. Opening tins, cutting up food and using normal utensils can be painful and strain damaged joints.

Make cooking and meal times enjoyable again and easier by using these home care aids:

•  Electric can openers (ease the strain of opening cans, reduce the risk of injury)
•  Kettle tipper (supports a kettle whilst pouring without having to lift it)
•  Non-slip matting (essential for food preparation to prevent items slipping, place under chopping boards)
•  Tongs (large barbeque tongs can come in handy for picking up objects)
•  Ergonomic utensils (cutlery with built up or angled handles, tubular foam handles can be attached to everyday items. Ideal for people with limited range of motion and grasping ability) 

Help with arranging the kitchen

Arrange the kitchen for someone with arthritis to reduce the strain on joints, conserve energy and reduce risk of injury to joints.

There are a few simple things you can do:

•  Arrange frequently used kitchen items in one area that is easy to reach and where they are used
•  Avoid stacking items such as plates on top of each other
•  Place unused items at the back of cupboards
•  Create a workbench that you can sit at comfortably with kitchen appliances and utensils within reach
•  Use electrical appliances such as microwaves, food processors, and electric can openers and knives to preserve energy
•  Use two handled cooking utensils. Holding pans with one handle places extra strain on the wrist.
•  Avoid the task of scrubbing dirty pans by buying Teflon coated pans to make washing easier
•  Change cupboard handles to easy grip handles
•  Replace heavy plates and bowls with lightweight dishes
•  Choose a stove with controls at the front that are easier to reach
•  Buy storage containers with easy grip lids 

Where can I buy arthritis aids?

You can buy arthritis aids from many pharmacies, rehabilitation and medical supply stores. Try searching online using key words arthritis aids.

• For more information about arthritis and to download arthritis fact sheets visit Arthritis Australia