1. Jewelry
Jewelry is a wonderful Mother’s Day gift but can present challenges for people with RA. RA is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, most commonly affecting the small joints in the hands. This can make fine motor tasks like handling jewelry quite difficult.
But that doesn’t mean you have to skip jewelry altogether. “When buying jewelry, look for large or magnetic clasps that don’t require fine pinching,” says Maggie Strode, an occupational therapist and hand therapist who works with people with RA in New York City.
Bracelets, necklaces, and earrings are often better choices than rings. “Rings are tough [for people with RA] because of the swelling that develops in the joints with arthritis,” says Strode.
If your mom particularly loves rings, look for ones that are adjustable in diameter or perhaps can open and close to accommodate fluctuations in finger swelling.
Assistive devices can help with finicky jewelry clasps, too. If you’re giving your mom a nonadaptive piece of jewelry, then adding in one of these devices may mean she gets more use out of your gift.
2. Paraffin Wax Bath
A paraffin wax bath will certainly be appreciated by anyone with RA. This device soothes achy joints in the hands. It is often used during hand therapy sessions for RA, but one can be purchased online and is easy to use and operate at home.
Using a paraffin wax bath involves melting wax capsules and dipping your hands in three to five times, then covering them with a towel and heating pad and resting for 15 to 20 minutes. Exact instructions can vary with the device.
Paraffin wax baths “should not be used by people with a lack of sensation or open wounds,” says Strode. “However, when following the directions, and keeping the bath within 125 to 130 degrees F, they are very soothing.”
Strode also recommends purchasing unscented wax capsules along with the bath, since these are least likely to irritate the skin.
3. Stylish Compression Gloves
Some people with RA may benefit from compression gloves, which are slightly tight gloves that cover the wrists, hands, and fingers but leave the fingertips free for functional activities. “Compression gloves provide warmth and compression that can help manage joint pain and maximize joint mobility,” says Brandy Archie, an occupational therapist and the founder of adaptive equipment resource AskSamie, based in Kansas City, Missouri. People with RA should review the use of compression gloves with their rheumatologist and occupational therapist.
While a lot of compression gloves for arthritis are bulky and clinical looking, Archie notes that you can find sleeker ones in a range of colors — adding a stylish touch to a garment that might otherwise feel like a frustrating reminder of your mom’s RA.
Whether you want to go subtle with skin tones or bright with hot pink or lilac, there are tons of choices.
4. Sun Protection
Clothing like a beach cover-up, loose long shirts and trousers, a sun hoodie, and UV-protected clothing, as well as accessories like a beach umbrella, sun hat, sun gloves, and a luxurious facial sunscreen, are good choices.
5. Loungewear
Beyond sun protection, new clothes in general are a nice gift choice for Mother’s Day.
However, RA can make getting certain clothing on and off challenging. Look for clothes that are easy to put on and take off. For example, skip tops with buttons and tight clothing in favor of loose shifts and open cardigans. “With RA, make sure the clothing is not too restrictive,” says Strode. “Something like linen that is light and generally loose is comfortable.”
If your mom’s been eyeing a special piece of clothing that looks overly complicated to get on and off, then you might consider gifting her some adaptive tools. Devices like button hooks, shoe horns, zipper pulls, magnetic button helpers, shoe buttons (which keep shoelaces in place, preventing the need to retie laces), elastic no-tie shoelaces, and sock aids can make a big difference, so she doesn’t have to sacrifice her fashion sense due to RA.
6. Massage or Spa Voucher
A massage is a particularly luxurious gift that many moms with RA will love. And it can be more than simply indulgent; clinical studies have found that various forms of massage — Swedish, aromatherapy, and foot reflexology — can reduce pain, improve joint function, and enhance psychological well-being in people with RA. If you’re hesitant to book something like this for a mom with painful joints, here are some tips.
First, opt for a voucher instead of booking a massage or spa day outright. This gives your mom some agency, as well as the flexibility to book a date that works for both her RA symptoms and her schedule.
If your mom doesn’t already have a go-to massage therapist, then it’s worth doing some research to find one who’s suitable.
Grace Leger, owner and massage therapist at Elite Injury Rehab in Boulder, Colorado, has experience providing massage services for clients with RA. “When researching locations, first call the front desk and ask if any of the therapists have experience with rheumatoid arthritis,” she says. She advises looking for massage therapists who are familiar with myofascial techniques, chronic pain support, lymphatic drainage, lomilomi (a Polynesian kneading massage), and craniosacral therapy (a gentle hands-on method to help release tension in your body’s connective tissue), all of which may help with RA symptoms.
For something cheaper and more accessible than a professional massage, Leger recommends gifting your mom a lacrosse ball. These firm balls can be great for people with RA to perform self-massage, for example, by rolling their hands on a table.
7. Ergonomic Makeup Tools
Moms who are into beauty and makeup will appreciate restocking their go-to products or getting a trendy product that’s new to the market. However, applying makeup can be tough for people with RA. You may have even noticed that your mom uses makeup less frequently, even if she loved it before.
“Makeup is all fine motor work,” says Archie. “You’re gripping tiny tubes, twisting caps, and holding a mascara wand steady.” RA can particularly affect the finger joints, making them swollen, stiff, and painful to move. “The more you bend and hold those joints steady, the more challenging the task. So putting on makeup is a key challenge,” Archie says.
Look for makeup products with ergonomic containers and consider giving your mom assistive devices that make application easier for stiff hands. Tools like wide grips can be added to nail polish bottles, and there are makeup tools that require a lighter grasp for people with RA.
8. Meal Delivery Subscription
Some companies send meals that are fully prepped and just need to be reheated. Other companies send easy-to-prep meal kits.
“Look for meal kits that have as many prepared veggies as possible,” says Strode, because this can help avoid joint discomfort from repetitive chopping. You might also want to purchase your mom an ergonomic box cutter so she doesn’t have difficulty opening the shipment.
9. Adaptive Cooking Tools
On the flip side, if your mom is an avid home chef, she may not want to give it up due to her RA. Cooking, however, requires lots of twisting, gripping, lifting, and repetitive movements, and this can feel pretty brutal on inflamed joints. Help her work with her RA, not against it, and give her adaptive cooking tools designed for people with limited hand mobility.
Archie recommends electric jar openers and automatic can openers, which reduce joint strain and the risk of injury. You might also consider an electric peeler, rocker knife (for one-motion cutting), spiked cutting board that holds food in place, or extra lightweight pots and pans.
Other kitchen devices that aren’t necessarily marketed as adaptive can also work. For instance, an Instant Pot or air fryer can cut out time in the kitchen and reduce a recipe’s steps.
10. Exercise Class Gift Card
All of us can benefit from exercise, including anyone with RA. However, more intense types of exercise can be painful or lead to symptom flares for some people with RA.
“Gentle movement like yoga, tai chi, and Pilates help maintain joint mobility, reduce stiffness, and build the stabilizing muscles around those vulnerable joints,” says Archie.
A gift voucher to a low-impact exercise class (and perhaps even an IOU to attend the class with your mom if her love language is quality time) can support her health. Look for instructors who understand modifications and arthritis.
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