Monday, December 30, 2013

Arthritis Aids for Your Parents


You know your parents. The last thing your mother or father will do is give into arthritis symptoms or depend on someone to complete daily tasks. So to stop the looks or lectures from your parents every time you mention helping them, invest in independent living aids.  Here are a few suggestions.  
Independent living aids are ideal for anyone living with arthritis.  Look into devices specifically made to assist your parents with everyday tasks like writing. For instance, the Ergowriter is especially made to ease the pain of writing associated with arthritis symptoms. It comfortably fits in the right or left hand. It allows your parent to correctly position his or her thumb to reduce the stress on the wrist. The ErgoWriter is made with non-bendable, hard plastic and can be used with standard pencils or pens. There are more writing independent living aids like the Type Aid and Arthwriter Hand Aid.
If your parents aren’t into clapping to turn on and off the lights, the lamp switch enlarger may be a great option. The enlarger, designed with the help of occupational therapists, easily fits over majority of lamp switch knobs. Since the device is larger than the tiny switch knob, your mom or dad won’t have to become frustrated when turning on and off lights.
If your parent has trouble holding a telephone, invest in a Hands Free Remote Controlled Speakerphone. The phone allows him or her to call and talk on the phone without holding a receiver. It even has a built-in microphone. Other around the house independently living aids include bendable, twist touch and easy grip slide utensils. There are also items like multi-grip bottle openers.
Sometimes you may notice your father struggling to get out of his favorite recliner. Maybe he has mentioned how he misses sitting in his favorite chair. Regardless of how you found out, there is a perfect solution for the problem: the Little Boost Platform Chair Riser. The safe and sturdy chair riser requires no assembly. In fact, there are no moving parts. It has a security lip that goes around the four top edges to prevent the device slipping off the platform. On each corner of the platform there is an 8 inch flat rubber paid that prevents to chair from sliding or moving. The chair riser elevates the chair three inches. So your dad—or mom—will be able to stand up or sit down without struggling.
In addition to the chair riser, there are other independent living aids to help your parents stand or sit without struggling. For instance, there is an Uplift Seat Assist. It is a portable, lightweight lifting cushion that can be used in a chair or sofa. Also, there is an uplift seat assist that has two power levels to help parents with mobility issues.
Arthritis has many symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness. The symptoms generally worsen as your parents grow older. However, you know your parents. They aren’t willing to give up their independence just because they have arthritis. In fact, they are determined to control their condition and do a lot of the things they love. Yes, even completing many everyday tasks can become a victory when someone has arthritis. That’s why independent living aids are so important. These aids help those with arthritis stay active. They also help you worry less about how your parents are doing.