Helpful Aids | Arthritis Information

I just finished getting dinner in the oven. Coming up with new ideas is hard enough. B I was thinking if anyone has tips or ideas they use or implement to make our everyday tasks easier. Would like to know what has worked for you and what has not.

I'll start....I have a stand that holds my blow dryer. I can style my hair and not have to hold onto the dang thing.

My favorite in the kitchen that I use almost everyday is a lil manual food processor. It is made by Tupperware. Example: 1 regular size onion I cut it in 4 and in less than 6 turns of the crank onions are chopped perfectly. I also have a very nice food processor, but for .00 the Tupperware version is awesome. Oh yeah the best part the whole thing goes in the dishwasher!

Interested to hear any tips an OT has given anyone to use in home or office.

............of course..........i'm in the kitchen...again. I'm telling you, my fat ass stays in there. And the thing about the blow dryer...............if you saw my pictures posted on here you can tell by looking that I need all the help I can get with my nappy ass hair. I really need those tips people.................i'm lazy as hell so the easier things are for me the better!!! This place rocks and you all still suuuuuuuuuuuuccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Lisa, I have one of those hand crank food processors. Got it at the Phoenix fair a couple years ago and I love it. I even did away with my food processor. It works great for celery. It is a life saver for when we fix the stuffing at Thanksgiving. The few cranks save you from sore wrists from all that knife chopping.

I was in Target the other night and they now have an electric cheese grater. Oster makes it and I was very tempted as I do a lot of parmesan type cheese grating and it is small enough to store in a drawer.

I noticed they now have tools for people who sew. Large handled stitch rippers and needle threaders and the like.

I have not gotten to the point where I need much of this but I am trying to finish up a hand done quilt and I have noticed I just do not have the finger dexterity that I used to have and it is depressing. anyway, I'll think of more later, have a good day.Hi Lori and Lisa, I love my little food processor. It attaches to my blender and I use it all of the time. I even make spice mixes with it.

I've lost finger dexterity and I guess it could just be age but you know how we blame RA for everything. I may have to blame RA for this. To date I haven't needed anythiing to help me but I know the time may come. Lindy

Hi guys, great idea for a thread inflamed, well done for ignoring the posts from the sick and nasty person.

I hop onto my desk chair on wheels when my feet are bad and roll around the house.

I have a table very lightweight and easily manoevred to be flat/tilted and the legs slide under the bed or the chair, great as I find it hard to hold books or newspapers for very long. Regards Janie.
I have a tin opener that requires no hands, it fits onto the lid, press a little button and it goes aorund the rim without holding it...its great

I explained to my husband that if I leave a bottle in his way, on his side of the bathroom counter, next to his coffee cup in the kitchen, by his seat in the living room, it means I can't get it open and I'd really appreciate it he'd open it for me and leave it someplace I can find it. Works like a charm, once I explained what I was doing. Course after a couple of times of the toilet bowl cleaner being set back on my side of the bathroom counter unopened, I realized he couldn't read my mind yet.

I keep a couple tools in my kitchen drawer. One a pair of kitchen shears, for opening bags, like potato chip or cookies. Another, that I use often is a small pair of needle nose pliers. It's amazing what you can do with these, especially if you have trouble gripping with your fingers. I use the pliers to open small fruit cups or pudding cups, among other things. Once you get used to them being handy, you'll find all kinds of things to use it for. Oh! opening the gallon jugs of milk! I use them to pull the plastic strip off the cap. Works great.

I haven't driven for almost a year, but when I could drive, I had a hard time turning the key to start the car. I got a LARGE plastic key holder from a magazine called Functional Solutions. It fits in your hand, so you use your whole hand to turn the key instead of just two fingers. Way less frustrating!. I think Functional Solutions has a website, too. I'll post it when I find it.

My husband also put golf grips on my silverware. It's so much easier to eat. I don't drop my fork or spoon as often.

I think a mandolin, otherwise known as a V-slicer, is a very handy kitchen tool even if you don't have RA, but especially if you do. I love ours:

gimpy, did i tell you about not using the little finger piece when slicing potatoes about a year or so ago. I literally made french fries out of one finger. Took forever to heal. Will NEVER do that again. I'm even afraid to use it now, LOLOuch! lorster, that made me hurt just reading your post. My God!my daughter lost a nail in the V slicer..sure someone ate it in the end...hahaha

Another good gadget i like is my kettle tilter. I cant pick the kettle up anymore without burning anyone within a metre range .

I have the one touch can opener like pin- love it! Electric toothbrush! I have an 'Oral B' and it has a recharger

and last for years. I have had mine for about 10 years , you just

change the brush part when needed. And it cleans your teeth

better than a regular tooth brush and is easier on the hands.

I have the one touch can opener , LOVE IT !!