|
When you have osteoarthritis, your house may feel like it’s full of pain-causing traps. You don’t have to move out. But be alert to possible hazards and try to avoid them.
Here are a few ideas to make your home more arthritis-friendly:
In the kitchen
- Are your cabinets easy to reach? Or, do you need a stool to reach the high shelves? If so, think about options. Buy a long-handled gripper to reach those top shelves. Or, if you can afford it, lower your cabinets so that you can get to every shelf easier.
- When cooking or cleaning, try to avoid pain. If you have knee, hip, or back problems, use a counter-top toaster oven or microwave when you can. That way you don’t have to bend to reach the oven. Get lightweight cookware. Aluminum pots and pans are ideal. Pans with nonstick coatings make clean-ups easier.
- Making pasta? Don’t fill the pot with water in the sink. Leave it on the burner and use the sprayer to fill the pot. When lifting pans and other containers, use both hands. This will help take the strain off your hands and wrists.
- Electric can openers, bottle-and-jar openers, and electric knives are some of the devices that can make cooking less of a strain on your joints.
Around the house
- Keep hallways clear of clutter. Avoid throw rugs and exposed power cords that can cause a fall.
- Cover stairs with nonstick material, like a runner that’s tacked down.
- Make sure you have protection in the bathroom. This includes grab bars for the shower and nonskid surfaces in the tub.
- Use night-lights, so you won’t have to walk in the dark.
- Put in railings for your entrance stairs, or a ramp, if you’re in a wheelchair or you have trouble walking.
- Swap doorknobs for levers or cover them with knob turners.
- Consider electric controls for your blinds and drapes. They’ll take the stress off your hands and wrists.
Thinking about getting a pet?
Pets are great company. They’re great medicine, too. Pet owners are less prone to heart problems, suffer less stress, and have less depression than people who don’t have pets. But, if you’ve got osteoarthritis, some pets may be easier to deal with than others:
- Small dogs, like terriers and dachshunds, are good for small spaces. But they’re more likely than large dogs to trip you. All dogs need exercise, however. This will encourage you to get out, too.
- Cats need less care than dogs. But longhaired breeds, like Persians, demand lots of grooming. That may be hard if you have hand or wrist osteoarthritis.
- Birds take up less space than dogs or cats. Their cages need cleaning often, so choose a cage that’s easy to reach and tidy up.
- Fish, like birds, don’t take up much space. You can now buy self-cleaning tanks, but the water must be changed every month or so.
Also of Interest
|
