May is Arthritis Awareness Month in honor of the 46 million Americans who suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or any of the other 100 types of arthritis. At Homecare Advocate, we’ve uncovered some great assistive devices that could benefit anyone with arthritis, and we will be doing a 3-part series on these helpful devices over the next few weeks.
First up, let’s get you ready for the day!
It’s all about the grip! Thick handles on a hairbrush are easier to hold. Try holding it in your hand before you buy it to get one that offers a comfortable grip for you.
ZIPPER PULLS & DRESSING STICKS
These handy devices help with getting dressed, such as pulling up a zipper and buttoning your shirt.
LONG-HANDLED SHOE HORN
Does the heel of your shoe get mashed down? Use a long-handled shoe horn to help slide your foot into the shoe without having to bend over.
Tie them once and never again! Since these shoelaces have elastic on them, they will stretch as you put your shoe on. These laces still provide a comfortable, snug fit for your shoe.
MAGNETIC JEWELRY CLASPS
Now you can wear your favorite necklaces & bracelets again! Magnetic jewelry clasps can be easily attached to your own jewelry. Be sure you get one with a strong magnets to keep your jewelry from accidentally falling off.
GRAB BARS
Steady yourself while bathing by holding onto sturdy grab bars. They are 4″ in diameter, a comfortable width while still allowing you to have a good grip.
FAUCET LEVERS
Unlike knobs, levers are easy to turn as you set the water to the desired temperature.
TOILET: ADDING EXTRA HEIGHT or BUYING TALL
With toilets, you have two options to help keep you from having to drop down to the seat. Tall toilets are sold at home improvement stores and can easily be installed. A more economical option is to get a portable raised toilet seat, adding anywhere from 2-4″ of height onto your existing commode. They are available in standard and elongated sizes and can be easily attached and removed from a toilet as needed.
Arthritis sufferers have long been aware of the therapeutic benefits of warm water. Walk-in bathtubs are great for those with arthritis for multiple reasons. First, it has a low-threshold doorway that you can walk through instead of lifting your leg over the edge of a traditional tub. Second, the air and water jets gently massage your body, providing arthritis relief. And third, they are tax exempt in the state of Tennessee if you have a prescription from your physician–a huge cost savings for you.
What other items have you found helpful for getting dressed for the day?
::AWP::
Hey I really like the website you have here. I know this is coming a little late, but there is a new infographic for rheumatoid arthritis. The infographic is titled “What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?”. It has some great information about this chronic autoimmune disease and some of the organizations which support RA patients.
Great Steve! Thanks for the info!