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Should I buy a perching stool to use in the kitchen?

(52 Posts)
teabagwoman Thu 13-Apr-23 14:54:13

I have osteoarthritis in my feet, knees, hips and back. I’m doing all I can re exercise and diet but am finding it increasingly difficult to stand for any length of time. My dd has suggested that I get a perching stool to use while cooking. It would be really helpful to hear Gransnetter’s experiences of using one before I shell out. Thanks.

midgey Thu 13-Apr-23 14:57:12

My husband had one and found it very useful. I should think it would be a good investment for you. Might be worth looking in charity shops or second hand shops.

lemsip Thu 13-Apr-23 15:04:34

yes, these are very useful. the slope of the seat with the height so as you can 'sit/perch' at worktop is a great idea.

my neighbour got one on loan from local authority.

mrstin Thu 13-Apr-23 15:08:53

My mother has one on loan from Occupational Therapy.

Visgir1 Thu 13-Apr-23 15:34:13

Yes... Agree see if you can get one from the Equipment Bank, the OT team should be able to help.

Forsythia Thu 13-Apr-23 15:38:28

My MiL asked through Age Concern. She acquired all sorts of things to help her via their local office. I believe they put her in contact with the right people if they could not provide it themselves.

teabagwoman Thu 13-Apr-23 15:45:19

Thank you all, I’ll see whether our local OT department or Age Concern can help before I purchase one.

Salti Thu 13-Apr-23 15:48:06

I bought one in a charity shop for my sister in law. Unfortunately she didn't like it and gave it back to me. I ended up using it in my greenhouse when I was potting on occasionally. If you can I would try somebody else's before you buy one to see if it suits you. There must be thousands of secondhand ones around.

toscalily Thu 13-Apr-23 15:49:29

If the seat is sloping would you tend to slide off?
Never heard of a perching stool, will use Mr google to find out.

welbeck Thu 13-Apr-23 15:52:13

it is a very slight slope.
community OT or social services OT should be able to advise on suitable aids, and may supply.
ask for referral through GP if necessary.

toscalily Thu 13-Apr-23 15:52:45

Now know what you are talking about, think I would be tripping over it all the time as the legs stick out.

crazyH Thu 13-Apr-23 16:00:20

I have a high wooden chair in my kitchen - it’s handy if someone pops in while I’m cooking so that they can sit on it and chat to me. I don’t use it myself. When I’m cooking, I’m all over the kitchen …..opening cupboards for this, opening cupboards for that. But I can understand why you would like a stool. I hope Age Concern will give you some ideas.

Katie59 Thu 13-Apr-23 16:08:27

Mum had one, it’s a nice idea but she couldn’t use it when at the sink or other worktops, might work if you had a lower kitchen table that you can get closer to.

Humbertbear Thu 13-Apr-23 16:17:50

Occupational health will supply one. Ask the GP to contact them

Marydoll Thu 13-Apr-23 16:25:21

When I was teaching, the OT organised one. I was assessed for height etc.

Norah Thu 13-Apr-23 16:26:41

We use kitchen island stools, daily, whilst cooking.

Similar to this, easy to clean, enjoyable to sit upon.

Primrose53 Thu 13-Apr-23 16:30:54

My Mum was supplied with one when she left hospital along with other aids. She found it very useful.

As others have said charity shops often have them because the firms the NHS use to collect them, often fail to do so. Dreadful waste of money.

Davida1968 Thu 13-Apr-23 16:44:08

I have perching-stool which I bought (in pristine condition) from a charity shop. It's useful to me at times, e.g. when doing a lot of jobs at the sink. It folds for easy storage.

NanaDana Thu 13-Apr-23 16:51:50

Sounds like a good idea, given your difficulties with arthritis. They're quite expensive to buy privately, so it would be worth checking out what's available via the NHS. There's lots of info on line about what's available, dependent upon an assessment of your condition.

sparkly1000 Thu 13-Apr-23 17:22:36

I have one, and like Salti, it’s used in my greenhouse. My small kitchen has nowhere to sit by a work surface where you can put your knees under.

Also, in order to be stable, they are heavy to move.

DamaskRose Thu 13-Apr-23 17:36:31

A disabled friend found one very useful, got hers via GP.

RakshaMK Thu 13-Apr-23 17:41:05

I got one from OT, but even a bariatric one isn't wide enough to use comfortably. Now I use an office chair wedged in a corner to sit on when I can't stand anymore.

aggie Thu 13-Apr-23 17:46:56

I have a perching stool from the ot , it’s also in the greenhouse as I don’t need it in the house now
But the clue is in the name , it’s not for sitting on , it’s for perching your bum against while you are doing tasks at the sink or the counter , if it’s at sitting height it has been wrongly named , no need to fit your knees under a table , it’s for counters and the sink where you stand

Whiff Thu 13-Apr-23 18:02:55

Ask your GP for a referral to occupational therapy and you can get free equipment.

mousemac Fri 14-Apr-23 12:05:51

I've had one for years. Cannot imagine living without it.