Can you please recommend and gadgets/tools you find helpful for arthritic hands? I now drop everything, cannot open anything or cut anything. Thankyou.
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Gadgets for wonky hands?
(31 Posts)That must be very frustrating.
I put my Marigolds on to open jars. They give me much more grip and don't slip off like the gadgets do.
Similarly I wrap a tea towel around a knife handle to give me a better grip, and another tea towel under a chopping board to stop it sliding around.
I'm sure others will be along with tried and tested gadgets -these are just my 'make do and mend' solutions.
There is a brilliantly named site called 'Granny Gets a Grip'. I'm not sure there is much there but I love the name.
Not really a gadget, but more if a useful tip…………. If you need to wring out a dishcloth, for example, loop it round your kitchen tap and twist the loose ends round and round. You are obviously using your painful hands, but the results are better and quicker than what you could achieve with the more traditional method.
I was advised to do this when in hospital over 40 years ago when first diagnosed with RA. Also, I wonder if you are resting your hands in the rather fetching black “mittens” which you will get through the hospital. I find these really useful. Years ago they were ugly beige things with Velcro fastenings and metal strips , but now they are tight fitting, stretchy black material with a zip.
I would recommend an electric tin opener, but with any knife or gadget with a handle, go for the chunkiest one, slimmer ones are more difficult to grip - they tend to send my hands into a spasm. I would also endorse everything recommended by lixy, I have found that the simplest solutions are often the best.
Arthritis is cruel and particularly frustrating in the hands.
I have the same problem and use a lot of the tips and advice given here already. I use a small rolling pin that is meant for pasta it’s easier to use than a regular one. I use a fork to pull the ring pulls from tins otherwise I can’t open them. Pop the lid of jars with a small paring knife before twisting open it helps take the lid off. I have two grabbers bought from B&M I think very useful around house and garden.
I had raised veg beds built which was to make gardening a bit easier. I buy smaller but good quality gardening tools meant for young gardeners. They are not cheap but extremely useful and have a little strap for putting around my wrist Harrod Horticultural I couldn't garden without them.
I have a jar key that breaks the airlock on jar tops that lets the top be turned easier. Also, a ring pull a piece of plastic you put through a cans ring pull roll and it peels away the top.
I keep a simple pair of nutcrackers in the kitchen drawer great for opening bottles with metal caps.
A plastic funnel for filling the pepper /salt grinders or an envelope with the corner cut off to make a funnel.
Like someone up post rubber gloves give a better grip or get rid of wasps.
For jars, I use a bottle opener to release the vacuum and make jar lids pop.
Another tip is to grip the lid and turn the jar.
Sometimes I have to pour boiling water around the jar top to release the airlock.
I find opening tins difficult and I appear to have the most up to date gadgets but I still have problems, I frequently use my mother's ancient pierce the top of the tin method.
I cannot get to grips with an electric tin opener- my stupidity or because I am left handed?
I have some little rubber mats designed to grip the tops of jars which help.
A little plastic gadget to insert under ring pulls on tins which is easy to use.
A jar opener bought for MIL which we now have.
The only thing is remembering where I bought them.
www.amazon.co.uk/Culinare-MagiPull-Ring-Opener-Plastic/dp/B00K2TO0IW/ref=asc_df_B00K2TO0IW/?hvlocphy=1007420&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvnetw=g&hvadid=205185882402&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-421429375571&hvrand=491802604640489392
www.lakeland.co.uk/26838/2-jar-opener-lid-grippers?src=gfeed&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6rCgBhDVARIsAK1kGPK-Jbkkvs9VCa7c8xEucCvmMofdC19Z0jKN74i1VXjkZUApbH8W5sQaAkfJEALw_wcB
www.coopersofstortford.co.uk/hands-free-jar-opener/?SKU=J101_RE&src=gbase&vsrc=igb9b2&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6rCgBhDVARIsAK1kGPKqRhmHAYLK9B_0V-YJgwSSgO2PhkpbqXJZGseFKL9VKDCDpO7XZWUaAoGjEALw_wcB
We also bought a battery operated tin opener from Coopers of Stortford which is good.
Other retailers available
I have just bought a trolley token with a butterfly shaped handle for ease of getting your token out of the trolley.
Also have a JarKey which lifts the edge of a lid and releases the vacuum.
I cannot get to grips with an electric tin opener- my stupidity or because I am left handed?
The battery operated one we bought is good:
www.coopersofstortford.co.uk/can-magic-electric-can-opener/?src=gbase&vsrc=igb9b2
It's not electric, it's battery operated.
kittylester
There is a brilliantly named site called 'Granny Gets a Grip'. I'm not sure there is much there but I love the name.
The things on there are really overpriced.
They do have some good stuff there though.
My advice is see what you like, and then go to Amazon or elsewhere and seek it out.
The OXO Good Grips range, available from Lakeland and Amazon amongst others, have soft, non slip, comfortable handles.
Here they are supplied free of charge by home helps whether your council has given you a home help or not.
If the NHS doesn't supply them, ask a health visitor or your GP to tell you where you can get them,
Tin and jar openers are probably available from the pound shop, Amazon, any good hardware shop, and you can get adapters for taps as well - kitchen scissors adapted for those with arthritic hands.
If there is a British association for those with arthiritis they will be able to advise you too.
buy stuff ready chopped, iceland do loads of frozen fruit and veg which is just ready to go
Canalboatgranma, your trolley token, with a butterfly handle, sounds wonderful.
Could you please tell us where you bought it?
DH has list a couple if tokens, when he just could not get them out if the trolley.
Many thanks.
I couldn’t open a large bottle of 7Up so I gave it to my DH who couldn’t open it either. Our 10 years old grandson said he would have a go and it was opened in seconds 😀
I'm going to order some plug tugs. There are two plugs that I have difficulty with in my kitchen. DH bought a velvetiser at Christmas. It has a very silly narrow plug with two side indentations supposedly for gripping. My fingers just slide off.
I had to get DH to open a jar of honey at lunchtime, it defeated me even with my rubber gloves on.
But, fanny, isn't the name great!
I bought this for grating cheese
as I found it difficult to grip the cheese.
It's really good, and goes in the dishwasher for cleaning.
Ourokhome Rotary Cheese Grater Chopper - Vegetable Mandoline Slicer with 3 Interchangeable Ultra Sharp Cylinders Stainless Steel Blades(Blue) amzn.eu/d/atkmw4L
December mats are really useful for all sorts of jobs.
www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjAyI3M0NT9AhVV6-0KHYZQDkQYABALGgJkZw&sig=AOD64_3Qew8vhlCZz_qjLJqOJjyy4LSTlg&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjglofM0NT9AhWGglwKHb1zADEQwg8oAHoECAQQDA&adurl=
Come in different shapes and sizes.
Do you live near London by any chance? The Disabled Living Foundation on the Harrow Road is a good place to go to try loads of different pieces of equipment and to get expert advice.
Otherwise you can order online.
Think there may also be one in Manchester but not 100% sure about that.
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