Arthritis is a painful, debilitating disease which affects over 40 million Americans. As the cartilage around joints begins to deteriorate, the painful swelling and pain cause extreme pain when performing normal daily activities.
Suffering from arthritis in the hands makes it incredibly difficult to carry items, open jars, and pick up common objects. Arthritis in the hips or knees can make it impossible to kneel and bend down. Severe arthritis in the hips or knees can severely affect mobility, limiting the ability to walk even short distances.
When arthritis creates mobility issues and severely affects your lifestyle, it’s important to make changes to your home to make life easier. Here are six ways you can adapt your home to make life better for arthritis sufferers.
6 Ways to Modify Your Home When Living with Arthritis
- Install handrails and chair in tub/shower
- Stairlift EZ Chair
- Wheelchair access both inside and outside
- Remove things that make you trip
- Shelving/counter height for important things
- Smart Home Technology
1. Install handrails and chair in tub/shower
Bathing can become safer and easier by making a few adjustments to your bathroom. Bathrooms can be dangerous since the tub is so slippery, and the last thing you want to do is fall.
Install some handrails around the tub to minimize the risk of slipping and falling. When it’s time for a shower, there’s no need to stand. A simple plastic chair in the tub can make a world of difference. A chair allows you to enjoy a shower without the risk of falling.
2. Stair Lift
If your house has multiple floors, it may be necessary to install a stair lift to carry a person upstairs. A popular brand like Easy Climber offers a variety of stair lifts that can be customized to fit the design of your home. A stair lift removes the risk of falling, and can prevent severe injuries from occurring— and possibly even save a life.
3. Wheelchair access both inside and outside
If arthritis in the hips or knees makes walking too difficult and dangerous, a wheelchair may be required. Make sure there is proper wheelchair access from the driveway into the home. Move any furniture out of the way, so the wheelchair can provide mobility through the main floor of the home.
4. Remove things that make you trip
One of the simplest, yet most important, modifications you can make to your home is to simply remove anything that can make you trip and fall. This includes any children’s toys, dog toys, packages, and everyday clutter. But the most important items to watch out for are carpet and rugs. A throw rug is the most common way to trip. Be sure your carpet is level with the rest of the flooring in your house, and remove all rugs that can make a person slip or stumble.
5. Use shelving and counters for important things
Make use of shelving and countertops in your home. Keep important items on the counter or within easy reach on a shelf. This eliminates the need to bend over and pick up important items. Storing items within easy reach can help people with all types of arthritis. It’s easier on the hands, hips, and knees. Additional shelving is relatively inexpensive and can provide enormous relief.
6. Smart Home Technology
You don’t have to have a new home to take advantage of smart home technology. Thanks to devices such as Amazon’s Echo with Alexa, or Google Home, you can configure many appliances to operate by voice commands. This enables you to turn on lights, various electronic appliances, and even open your garage door by simply using your voice. You can buy a smart thermostat, such as a Nest device, and control the temperature of your home by speaking a simple command.
With some planning and creative rearranging, there are several steps you can take to make living with arthritis easier. Installing handrails, removing clutter, enabling wheelchair access will prove to be enormously helpful. Using technology such as a stair lift or smart-home device can take convenience to the next level.
Arthritis is a painful condition which can severely limit mobility and the ability to perform daily tasks. By taking control of your environment, living in your home can become much easier and enjoyable.