Practical Self-Help Tips

 

• Work for short periods, with planned rest periods in between.  If you cook, keep a chair or stool near the stove, so you can rest whenever you need to.

 

• Use a toaster, broiler oven, electric frying pan, crock-pot, or microwave oven for tabletop cooking to eliminate bending over the stove and oven.

 

• Arrange your storage facilities so the most frequently used items are within easy reach.

 

• To relieve pressure on your finger joints, use pieces of contrasting colored foam tubing over utensil handles. Try using a rocker knife, available in independent living catalogs, to slice foods. As you rock the handle up and down, the sharp, curved blade slices through the food.

 

• Use a rubberized or vinyl jar opener for gripping doorknobs and appliance controls.

 

• Avoid lifting or carrying heavy household items.  To transfer a pot from the counter to the stove, place the pot on a tray or cookie sheet with a raised rim and slide the tray along the counter instead of trying to lift the pot. 

 

• Use a cart with wheels to move items from room to room and to offer support while walking.

 

• When you read, support your book with a folding book stand instead of trying to hold it open.

 

• Install drawers on gliding tracks that open and close with a minimum of effort.

 

• Try not to start projects early in the morning when pain and stiffness are most pronounced. Sometimes a warm morning shower or bath can relieve joint pain. Be sure to use a bathtub bench or shower chair when bathing.