Assistive Devices: Living Better With Arthritis
Assistive Devices: Living Better With Arthritis
Getting dressed can be hard on your hands, but fortunately there are self-help devices to make the job easier and faster:
Of all self-help devices, a cane may be the most often seen, but it's also one of the most underused, experts say.
For many, there's the persistent fear that a cane makes them seem older than they are. But using a cane isn't about aging. It's about the independence, confidence, and mobility a cane can give.
Just like eyeglass frames can reflect your personal style, so can a cane. Just think of Fred Astaire dancing with the cane in Top Hat. But whether you'll be dancing or walking, make sure you use the cane correctly: On the opposite side from your bad leg.
Not sure if a cane, reach extender, or other assistive device is right for you? Talk to your doctor, physical therapist, or occupational therapist. They can guide you to the self-help tools that will give you the help you need.
Assistive Devices: Living Better With Arthritis
In this article
- Assistive Devices for Anywhere in the House
- In the Kitchen
- In the Bathroom
- In the Bedroom
- The Most Underused Assistive Device
In the Bedroom
Getting dressed can be hard on your hands, but fortunately there are self-help devices to make the job easier and faster:
- Zipper puller/buttoner. This fat-handled tool has a hook for pulling zippers, and a metal loop that helps you manage buttons. Buying clothes one size larger can also make daily dressing a little easier.
- Coil shoe laces make quick work of tying shoes, or you can opt for slip-ons or shoes with Velcro closures.
- Sock puller. Slip your sock or stocking over the plastic end of this device and with a tug of two straps socks and stockings slide on more easily.
- Long-handled shoe horns help make sliding shoes on easier. You can quickly make your own by taping a small shoe-horn to a yard stick.
The Most Underused Assistive Device
Of all self-help devices, a cane may be the most often seen, but it's also one of the most underused, experts say.
For many, there's the persistent fear that a cane makes them seem older than they are. But using a cane isn't about aging. It's about the independence, confidence, and mobility a cane can give.
Just like eyeglass frames can reflect your personal style, so can a cane. Just think of Fred Astaire dancing with the cane in Top Hat. But whether you'll be dancing or walking, make sure you use the cane correctly: On the opposite side from your bad leg.
Not sure if a cane, reach extender, or other assistive device is right for you? Talk to your doctor, physical therapist, or occupational therapist. They can guide you to the self-help tools that will give you the help you need.
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