Living Smarter with Arthritis - Daily living aids

August 2021

Arthritis can affect many joints within the body, decreasing the ability to bend and move well, or ongoing pain. Some people may also have increased difficulty using their hands. This can affect grip strength, grasp, and fine motor movements. All these things can stop people’s ability to complete everyday tasks and activities.

The use of assistive devices is becoming more common for people with a range of chronic conditions. They can also be very useful for people living with arthritis.

An assistive device is any piece of equipment that enables or 'assists' you to complete daily tasks that you need, want or have to do. This can help people to:

Take part in more activities within the home, workplace, and community;
make mobility safer and easier and to,
make recreational activities and hobbies more enjoyable to pursue

So, what are some daily activities that can be affected?

There are many activities that can be affected. Daily activities commonly affected by arthritis may include:

Bathing, showering and toileting
Clothing and getting dressed
Kitchen and household tasks e.g. gardening, cleaning, housekeeping
Eating and drinking
Home office/workplace/study
Driving

As well as assistive devices, simple modifications to how we use every day items can also assist us in carrying out these activities and reduce pain.

Items to look for when shopping...

Some items that are readily found while shopping can also help reduce the amount of stress on your joints. Some examples might include:

Aiming to choose products with less packaging to reduce the need for fine motor skills
Containers in smaller sizes to reduce the carry load. Containers with tabs can also be easier to open.
Furniture on wheels or trolleys to use throughout the house and,
Items with long or thicker handles. These help to extend reach and reduce the need to bend, and/or can be easier to grip.

Tips for...

The bathroom

Long handle sponges can help with washing while reducing the need to bend or reach as far
Non-slip mats can be placed in wet areas
A shower stool may be helpful to avoid standing for long periods of time
Rails can be fixated next to the toilet, as well as toilet seat raisers and bidets to reduce hand movement

Dressing

Specialised aids can assist with buttons, zips, and putting on socks or stockings
Shoe horns are helpful when putting shoes on
If you wear socks around the house, non-slip socks with grips on the sole can help reduce the risk of slips

Kitchen

Store every day items where they can be easily reached
Opt for lightweight kitchen items such as pots and pans, crockery and cooking utensils

Many products can be purchased to help throughout the kitchen such as:

Specially designed knives and slicers
Adapted cutlery and utensils, or ones with thicker handles
Pot and pan holders
Jar openers and,
Non-slip mats

Driving

For getting in and out of cars, there are various transfer aids, such as turn table seat pads.
Reverse cameras can be helpful
Steering wheel covers can help with grip

Workplace

For workspaces, position the computer at an appropriate height, and don't forget a supportive chair. Forearm and wrist supports are available as well as footrests. Ensure all the items you need during the day are close by, to reduce the amount of movement you need. A good way to do so is with desk organisers.

Pacing

Another important way of protecting the joints is to pace yourself. This can mean setting a time during an activity to take short breaks to ensure you are not causing stress to your joints and increasing pain.

More information

To find suitable items and where to purchase them:

Visit a local Independent Living Centre. You can find your local centre at https://ilcaustralia.org.au/
Visit https://www.mobilityhq.com.au/ or https://www.aidacare.com.au/ for more arthritis aids and supplies
See an Occupational Therapist who can advise on products and other ways to protect your joints https://www.otaus.com.au/

Activities Of Daily Living