When you live with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the smallest daily tasks can be difficult, from getting dressed to making dinner.

After living with RA for 19 years and earning a Masters in Occupational Therapy, I have developed a deep love for life hacks or daily adaptations that can reduce the stress on my joints and allow me to function more independently!

Most of these are based on principles of “joint protection,” meaning strategies to reduce unnecessary force and stress on your joints during daily tasks.

In this blog post, I’ll share some of my favorite tips, tricks, and tools for rheumatoid arthritis at home, organized by room.

Front entrance to the home or apartment

Sometimes the most important life hack is the one that allows you to get into the home in the first place – anyone who has struggled to turn a key into a stubborn lock can relate to this struggle!

I use an adaptive gadget which goes on top of my keys and effectively adds “wings” to the sides to make it much easier to grip and twist. This takes the strain off my sore thumb and index finger joints.

In addition, many people with RA find that door handles shaped like horizontal handles are much easier to open and close than round or circular door handles. I have replaced all the circular knobs in my home with handle knobs.

Another home entry adaptation would be “smart home” items, like a keypad to enter the front door instead of a button. Some can even be controlled from a smartphone using voice commands.

Another consideration is how many steps there are to get into your home or apartment. If you have hip or knee pain, steps can increase the difficulty.

Bathroom and toilet

• Raise the toilet seat: getting a “raised toilet seat” can help if you have hip pain in particular.
• Handle for stability: Adding grab bars to the side of the toilet can make getting on and off it easier.
• Wiping aids: There are toilet wipes with long handles that help if you have reduced shoulder movement or back pain.
• Bidet versus traditional American toilet: Many people find that a bidet is much easier to use for cleaning after a bowel movement than toilet paper.
• Washing style: Similar to the doorknob concept, I find sink faucets easier to use than those with circular knobs. Additionally, I installed a “hand wave” controlled faucet which allows me to turn it on without touching it – this is great for sore or stiff hands!

Kitchen and cooking

If you search for “arthritis gadgets for kitchen” on Google, you will see over six million results showing that this is a very popular topic and area of ​​concern for people with hand pain from RA or other forms of arthritis!

Here are the main categories of life hacks I consider in the kitchen:

• Opening aids: One of the tools I use the most is a simple plastic multi-opener tool that can open different sized jars as well as water bottles. In addition, many people find that it is easier to have an electronic can opener than a manual one.
• Aids for cutting/chopping: Did you know that there are hundreds of different designs for the basic kitchen knife? I use a “handle knife,” which has a handle at a 90-degree angle to the blade; when I grab this handle and cut, I avoid unnecessary stress on my knuckle and thumb joints. Other options include a tilting knife, electronic food chopper, or a “slap chop” chopper.
• Overall kitchen organization: One of the simplest and cheapest things you can do to make your kitchen more arthritis-friendly is to reorganize it so that the things you use most often are between shoulder and hip level. Pouring large, heavy items into smaller containers can also help.
• Kitchen Equipment Considerations: I just went through a kitchen remodel and I was *shocked* at how different each kitchen appliance was when it comes to ease of use. For example, some refrigerators were so difficult to open that I needed two hands, and others required awkward grips or hand positions that would not be good for my joints over time. On the plus side, there were some exciting new developments including a “hand wave” operated drawer microwave! I highly recommend that you try out appliances before you buy them and also consider the ideal height for you. For example, I have a lower microwave than most people, as it is easier for me to use when it comes to hand and shoulder pain.
• Tips for managing fatigue: Fatigue can be a significant barrier in the kitchen; some things that can help include stools for sitting and taking rest breaks, an anti-fatigue mat to stand on, “dividing” cooking tasks so you don’t do them all at once, and using solutions such as pre-chopped food that can save you energy.

Bedroom

Sleep is an incredibly important lifestyle factor for managing rheumatoid arthritis stress and inflammation. Some things to consider to make your bedroom activities more comfortable include:

• Bed horse or bed ladder: These can help you get in and out of bed if you have hip pain
• Sleep Positioning: It is important to adopt positions during rest that do not contribute to further deformities; Occupational therapists can help recommend resting hand splints, which can prevent ulnar drift. They can also help you experiment with different pillows and setups to achieve a symmetrical position.
• Sleep hygiene and routines: Having a consistent, relaxing bedtime routine can help you get better sleep.
• Intimacy: Occupational therapists can help you work through ways in which your arthritis may affect your participation in sexual activity and sex life. This can include timing medications for sexual activity, scheduling intimate activities in advance for times of day when you feel most comfortable, and experimenting with different positions that stress your body less.

Conclusion

Tips, tricks and tools can help you better manage your RA in your home, and this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to home modifications and life hacks! If you have more questions, don’t forget that occupational therapists specialize in these very topics, as well as ways to get you back into meaningful activities and routines.