“These can help you maintain your independence and safety in the bathroom,” says Lang. Consider adding a grab bar to help get in and out of the tub safely, and add one near the toilet as well - or even an arm rest. You can make small changes to your bathroom routine and update the products you use to make bathing and grooming safer. In the bathroom, you want to make tasks like bending and standing easier. Lightweight cookware Replace heavy pots, pans, and tableware with lighter-weight versions to help make both cooking and cleanup easier on your joints, recommends Lang.Choose a step stool that is well balanced and lightweight, so you can move it around easily. Step stools and reachers These can help you reach higher-up items without too much effort.“You can also replace kitchen faucets and doorknobs with level handles, which are easier to turn.” “Larger handles help decrease stress on your hand joints,” says Lang. Handles and knobs Replace small knobs on cabinets and drawers with larger handles that are easier to grip.Adaptive utensils Upgrade your cutlery to ones with long or adaptive handles, or try specialized tools, such as rocker knives.“Or you can invest in an electric jar and can opener,” says Lang. Manual jar-opening devices If you need to be mindful of expenses, any device that can be attached to jar lids to give you a better grip will be an affordable solution.Small appliances A food processor can make chopping, grating, and assembling ingredients during food preparation much easier for people with RA.“It’s important to decide which specific tasks are most bothersome to you personally, rather than spending a lot of money on gadgets that you will never use,” explains Lang. Updating your appliances and trying out some kitchen hacks can help make these tasks easier. Several tools and devices can help make meal prep and cooking easier. “Assistive devices can help compensate for decreased grip strength and joint mobility, minimize stress on painful joints, and increase function with everyday tasks,” says Lang.Ī variety of aids combined with changes to how you move can make it easier to accomplish daily tasks. “But when a certain task becomes too painful or difficult to perform due to joint pain or weakness, the right assistive device might help you to retain your independence and quality of life.”įor people with RA, the most difficult activities are often those that involve resistance, weight, or pressure on the joints. When should you consider using assistive devices? “Everyone comes to this decision in their own time, and many people prefer to keep doing their activities without any aids for as long as possible,” says Gayle Lang, an occupational therapy clinical specialist in the department of rehabilitation services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. There are tools that can make almost every activity in your day easier, whether you need to open tightly closed jars, get a better grip on your keys, or go up and down stairs safely. The good news? The use of certain assistive devices can help you get through your day with less pain and maintain your independence. Symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, and even fatigue can make it difficult to do everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning, and recreational activities. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory condition that commonly affects the joints in your hands, wrists, and knees.
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