Gifts That Cushion, Comfort, and Assist
Everyone can use a helping hand every now and then. And that’s especially true if you have bone and joint pain. The following items can help you inside and outside the home. If you’re looking for useful and caring gifts, consider one of these for yourself and someone on your holiday gift list. These items can be found online and at some local retailers.
In the Kitchen
Grip strength can wane with age and is exacerbated by wrist arthritis. As a physical therapist and someone who has wrist arthritis, Trena Carpenter, MPT, knows how the condition can impact daily life. “It can be very difficult to try to open a tight jar safely,” says Carpenter, Inpatient Rehab Clinical Supervisor, UCLA Medical Center. “I also personally have the ‘dropsies,’ so if I have pain, or if I strain to open jars, I risk dropping and breaking a glass jar.” These items can make some common kitchen tasks easier.
Jar opener set. Inexpensive multipurpose sets include gadgets to remove stubborn lids, pull tabs from cans, and open bottles. Look for those that have an ergonomic design and are made of sturdy stainless steel with silicone and nonslip handles. The set should be able to open wide jars as well as smaller bottles.
Salad hands. Instead of long-handled salad utensils, Carpenter recommends “salad hands,” which are shorter, and much easier to use and grip. Look for those that are nonstick, stain resistant and made of lightweight materials, such as bamboo. Some are quite beautiful. Just make sure that if the wood is multicolored, it has been done so with chemical-free and natural food-grade dyes.
Grinders. Because twisting actions can be especially difficult, consider getting a ratchet grinder that does the job with a back and forth action instead. Some come with removable jars so you can store various ground spices, salt, and pepper. Look for non-corrosive ceramic stone grinders. There are also battery-operated grinders as well.
Wine opener. If you’ve ever struggled with opening a wine bottle, there are battery-operated and rechargeable versions. Most come with foil cutters. Be sure that the device works in reverse to release the cork once it’s been pulled from the bottle.
“These items save wear and tear on the joints,” adds Carpenter. “With the ergonomic, lightweight salad hands, you can move around a lot of food very easily due to their large size. Compared to other kitchen utensils, they make short work of mixing larger salads or dishes with heavier ingredients.”
Seeing More Clearly
According to the National Institutes of Health, six out of 10 falls happen at home, and poor lighting can be a major contributor. So, it’s important that a home be well-lit inside and out. It’s also wise to be ready for unpredictable weather and natural events that knock out the electricity.
Motion sensors. These lights are excellent for illuminating outdoors as well as indoors. Direct beams at walkways toward the home, and in the home they’re helpful along pathways to the bathroom, kitchen, and other dark spots, such as basement stairs or the garage.
Emergency devices. Emergency lights plugged into outlets are designed to go on when the power goes out. There are also multipurpose flashlights that work by pumping or cranking a handle. Keep one in a nightstand and another in the car. Look for the multipurpose devices that have lights, are solar powered, hand-crank capable, and include a radio and cellphone charging capabilities. Find them online and at outdoor and camping stores.
Dementia clocks. These clocks can be useful to people who don’t see well and those experiencing cognitive decline. They feature high-resolution displays with large, clear letters and numbers with information that includes day, morning/evening, time with a.m. and p.m., and the date. Look for those that have auto-dimming options, so as not to disturb sleep. Some also offer more segmented day cycles on the display (i.e., morning, afternoon, evening, night, and dawn).
At the Gym
Whether you are at the gym or at home, good form (posture while exercising) is vital, especially when working out with weights. You might think your form is fine, but seeing is believing. That’s why occupational therapist Mike Desrosiers recommends having a mirror. “It’s very easy to lose good form during exercise,” says Desrosiers. “When form is poor, you risk injury because you’re not using your muscles correctly.”
Full-length mirror. If you can’t attach it to a wall, don’t worry. An inexpensive lightweight mirror can actually be better because you can easily move it around your exercise space to view your form lying down as well as when seated or standing.
Floor mats. There are many mats available on the market. Should you get thick or thin? “Look for those that are at least an inch think and soft enough to cushion knees and cradle your spine,” suggests Desrosiers. There is, however, such a thing as too soft. Too much cushion can make it difficult to do standing balances.
Resistance bands and tubes. These items are incredibly effective, convenient, and ready to join you on a trip or at the office. They provide consistent and progressive muscle load as you pull and release. Different colors indicate different resistance levels. Consider getting a pack with several options. If hand grip is an issue, soft foam handles can be purchased separately and are available for tubing as well as flex bands.
In the Garden
Gardening can be a very calming and restorative activity. But crouching, digging, and pulling can be straining on the body, particularly if you already have joint or mobility issues. Fortunately, there are many items that make planting easier for knees, backs, and wrists.
Essential tools. Many gardening essentials are now available as ergonomically-made tools. For example, the Radius tool line (radiusgarden.com) features a patented curved trowel made of lightweight, rust-free aluminum and has sharp edges that makes pushing the tool into the ground easier. Radius shovels with rounded handles are heavy duty but lightweight and designed to minimize stress on wrists and hands. There are pole versions of weeders, so you don’t have to get on your hands and knees to yank out weeds. Similarly, there are long-reach tool sets that can be helpful to people who have difficulty bending or reaching. Look for handles that are non-slip and angled to keep the wrist in a neutral position to reduce strain.
Scooters. Four-wheeled garden scooters are useful for people who tend raised beds. Be sure the seat is height adjustable, is contoured, and swivels easily. The scooter should have a place where you can keep tools within easy reach.
Planting in raised beds and large planters reduces the need for bending, easing the strain on joints. © Halfpoint | Getty Images
Gloves. Longer gloves, such as those used by rose gardeners, can reduce scratches and limit exposure to contact irritants like poison ivy. There are also specially made “arthritis gloves” that can be used for gardening to help reduce stress. Look for those that are breathable, have durable stitching, and therapeutic compression.
Ushering in Sleep
Sleep can sometimes feel like the ultimate luxury, but it is essential to health and mental well-being. Physicians always recommend “good sleep hygiene,” which includes regular sleep/wake times, a room that is dark and cool, daily exercise, and limit caffeine and alcohol. The following comfort items also may help.
Nebulizing diffuser. Studies suggest that inhaling lavender essential oil can be helpful in promoting relaxation and sleep. This can be achieved through the use of diffusers. Avoid those that heat the oil. Instead, nebulizers diffuse the oils by turning the liquid into a fine mist; just a few drops can scent a bedroom. Some include auto-shutdown, which can reduce damaging the device when it’s empty. Choose 100% pure essential oils. They should not be blended with other oils, water or alcohol. More credible companies will list the Latin name of the plant, the part used (e.g., flower, stem) and country of origin.
Eye pillows and masks. Some yoga classes offer eye pillows filled with flax seed and lavender for the final relaxation portion of class. Since the pillow will be on your eyes, look for organic materials. The inner case containing the filling should be removal so you can wash the outer case.
Weighted blankets. While there aren’t a ton of studies to substantiate these blankets, the idea does have merit. Weighted blankets have a swaddling-like effect and have been used in psychological settings to calm children with autism and adults with anxiety. Weight comes from plastic, metal, or glass beads sewn into the blanket. Look for those that have compartments within the blanket that keep the weight equally distributed. The recommendation is to try a weight that is about 10% of your body weight.
Money can’t buy good sleep, but there is a lot you can to do help yourself relax, including simple breathing and meditation techniques. Try the free offerings available at the UCLA Mindful App. Find it at Google Play and the Apple App Store, and at https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations. Consider including the link in virtual and print holiday cards to make others aware of the free service.
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