3-Point Products' Healthcare Blog

Top 10 adaptive products to help with arthritis – Part 2

As I mentioned in my previous blog, there are lots of products available to make living with arthritis easier. Therapists call them adaptive devices, or ADL’s, which stands for Aids to Daily Living. Some you my have heard of, others you may not have or you may not have thought of alternative uses.

The previous blog covered self-opening scissors, alternative uses for wet towels and for pliers, as well as slip-resistant Dycem and quality pens.

Here is the second half of my TOP 10 list of adaptive items to help with arthritis.

6. A long-handled reacher

                             

         (image of Handi-Reacher courtesy of Sammons Preston, a division of Patterson Medical, Inc.)  

Every household should have a long handled reacher. It does not matter if you don’t have arthritis, back pain, or you are tall enough to reach the ceiling, a reacher should be a standard household tool. When selecting a reacher, try to find one that requires all fingers to engage the mechanism. They are easier to use.

There is always a space between cupboards or next to the washer that something is certain to fall into. A narrow long handled reacher makes it easy to grasp the envelope that slipped between the cupboard and the stove, to pick up the sock that would otherwise go into the “disappeared” pile next to the dryer, and to pull that roll of paper towel to the edge of a just too high shelf. My reacher hangs in my pantry/laundry closet and it sees regular use. I have big pine trees in my backyard and my reacher is the ideal tool to pick up the hundreds of pine cones that fall each year without me having to bend down hundreds of times to clean the yard.

7. Bath Mitts

                                       
     (image of Sponge Wash Mitt courtesy of Sammons Preston, a division of Patterson Medical, Inc.)

A wash mitt beats a wash cloth every time. Slip it on one hand, soap it up and you are done trying to keep a grip on the cloth and keep it soaped up. Simply switch hands as needed and bathing becomes just a bit less stressful for your hands especially if you have arthritis. Combined with my number 3 choice, a bath chair, showering or bathing is safer and more comfortable and you have a few extra moments to just let the warm water soak sore joints and bones.

8. A Shower or Bath Chair

                                     

      (image of Shower Chair courtesy of Sammons Preston, a division of Patterson Medical, Inc.)

A simple seat or bath bench is ideal for relaxing and safe bathing. The model shown folds so it is easy to take in and out of the tub or shower and can be stored out of the way if needed. Sitting makes it easier and safer to reach your feet with

the bath mitt and it allows you to get a good relaxing soak.

9. Stocking or Sock Aid

                            

                                              (image courtesy of North Coast Medical)

If you have arthritis, back pain or mobility problems and reaching your feet or holding open a sock is difficult, Sock aids really do work. The one shown here has a flat bottom to allow your foot to slide in and out of it easily. It is effective with all but really tight compression stockings. You can search for this aide under the name Sock-Assist. For true confession’s sake, even though my company does not carry this aide, I did design it for the company who makes it and it was my first patent. And it works, so I can safely recommend it.

10. Work gloves with a gripping surface

                                                             

Gloves that have a silicone or rubber gripping surface make a lot of tasks easier and safer. There are a variety of lightweight gloves that are easy to slip on an off and can be used for many tasks. If you have arthritis or you don’t, the gripping surface makes it easier to hold things so you apply less force and therefore less stress on your hands and arms. If your hand strength is diminished, gripper gloves make tasks such as slicing meat or picking up heavy vases or books, easier and safer.

These are great when vacuuming or sweeping and my mother takes them with her to the grocery store so she can safely take cans off the shelf and lift heavy juice containers into her cart. The gloves pictured above are just two of the many brands available.

So now I have given you my Top 5 picks plus my next Top 5 picks for items that really do make it safer and less stressful to perform daily activities. If you have arthritis, diminished mobility or strength or like me, just don’t want to add more stress on an aging body than I have to, these are good things to have and use.

There are other well designed products that can be very helpful. When deciding what you might want to have in your house, your purse or your car to make it easier to get through your day with less physical stress, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is this something that will help me do something I can’t really do anymore?
2. Will I use it regularly?
3. If my friends see me using this will they want one too?

If you answer yes to any of these questions – buy it.

What are your favorite “tools” to make living with arthritis easier? Share them in the comments below.

Author: Julie Belkin