In the home

Balancing running a busy household and taking care of yourself can be a challenge for many people with arthritis. There is plenty of support available to help you to do this.

Some practical changes to your home and lifestyle should make managing at home much easier.

Changing things to suit you

It is important to remember to look after yourself – try to think about how you can do things in the most energy efficient way. Let your family know what tasks you find manageable and difficult, and spread the load if necessary.

These ideas might help:

• spread housework over a few days and take regular breaks
• keep things in easy to reach places
• fix hand rails on the walls
• use long-handled sponges for washing up or cleaning
• fit lever taps instead of taps you have to turn
• use long sticks with rubber stoppers on the end for pushing buttons on the TV or microwave
• keep a bar stool in the kitchen to rest on or to prepare food from
• use a trolley to move things around from room to room
• only fill the kettle with as much water as you need – good for saving fuel, too
• invest in gadgets such as automatic can and jar openers to help with preparing food
  

Sources of help

Occupational therapists can help you find new ways of doing things, including advice on special equipment and adaptations to your home.

You can try out a range of products at your local Disabled Living Centre (run by Assist UK). Your local Disablement Information and Advice Line (DIAL) can provide information on local services and suppliers who loan or sell equipment.

Care assessment

Your local social services (social work department in Scotland, health and social services trust in Northern Ireland) or local hospital might be able to provide free equipment depending on your needs and where you live.

Social services may require you to have a full community care assessment of your needs or you might be able to just contact them when you need particular information, items or services.

You might also be eligible for direct payments, which allow you to arrange and pay for your own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from the council.