{"id":1668,"date":"2023-07-31T12:38:21","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T07:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adultserviceau.com.au\/blog\/assistive-devices-living-better-with-arthritis\/"},"modified":"2023-07-31T12:38:21","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T07:08:21","slug":"assistive-devices-living-better-with-arthritis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adultserviceau.com.au\/blog\/assistive-devices-living-better-with-arthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"Assistive Devices: Living Better With Arthritis"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you\u2019re living with arthritis<\/a>, certain assistive devices<\/a> and changes around your home can help you tackle everyday chores with less pain<\/a> and move around more easily and safely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have to do the same task every day or very frequently, the small changes or tools that allow independence become significant,\u201d says Carole Dodge, an occupational therapist with the University of Michigan\u2019s School of Medicine.<\/p>\n

Here are some assistive devices, safety tips, and mobility aids that might help you around the house if you have osteoarthritis<\/a>, rheumatoid arthritis<\/a>, or another arthritic condition.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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You can find hundreds of assistive gadgets at hardware or home goods stores and online. The tools that might be right for you depend on things like where your arthritis is and how bad it is. If you need help narrowing down your options, meet with an occupational therapist (OT) who has experience working with people who have arthritis.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things that I do when I work with somebody is I find out very specifically the tasks that they find challenging — maybe ones they\u2019re avoiding because they\u2019re painful or ones they cannot do at all and they have to ask somebody for [help],\u201d says Dodge, who\u2019s been an OT for 40 years. \u201cThen we find a tool that\u2019s going to allow them to do that task independently.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Some of her top recommendations for gadgets and tips around the house are:<\/p>\n

Extended-handle tools. <\/strong>These can help you do things like pick up items off the floor, reach objects on high shelves, and dust or clean more easily.<\/p>\n

Lightweight appliances. <\/strong>A vacuum or mop that\u2019s easier to move around and carry could cause less stress to your joints.<\/p>\n

Touch-activated light switches. <\/strong>These can be gentler on your hands and fingers than regular knobs and switches. Almost any electric appliance can be adapted to be touch-on, touch-off, with an adapter that you buy in the electrical portion of the lighting store.<\/p>\n

Lever handles. <\/strong>You can replace door and sink knobs with these, so you can you use your palms rather than grip with your fingers. (If you can\u2019t replace doorknobs, you could buy a turning tool with a handle that helps you grip them more easily — some even help you grip keys.)<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

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Foam pipe insulation. <\/strong>Wrap this around the handle of just about any tool — like utensils, pens, brushes, and kitchen or gardening tools — to grip with less effort and pain. (You could also wrap tool handles with tape or cloth.) You can also buy tools with bigger, wider handles.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Spring-loaded scissors. <\/strong>These can make cutting easier.<\/p>\n

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