That’s where the right assistive devices and techniques can come in handy to help you work smarter, not harder, around your home. Try these tips to make chores easier.
1. Pace Yourself
Since chronic fatigue is a common symptom of RA, it’s important to pace yourself, which will help you conserve energy, says Karen Jacobs, EdD, OT, OTR, CPE, FAOTA, a clinical professor of occupational therapy at Boston University. Plan to clean no more than one room or space a day, or take 10- to 15-minute rest breaks as needed.
2. Rethink Your Laundry Routine
“When it’s laundry day, I limit myself to two loads,” says Meredith Reese of Akron, Ohio. She also lets her daughter help. “I’ll take it down and throw it in the washer and then she’ll put it in the dryer,” adds Reese, who was diagnosed with RA in 2002.
If you live on one floor, or in an elevator building, you can also try using a cart with wheels and keeping your laundry baskets on top of it, says Jacobs. Use the cart to gently push your dirty clothes to the washing machine and your clean clothes to the bedroom, she adds. And try using baskets that are curved to rest on your hip, because they’re easier to carry. Additionally, a reacher can help you grab clothes and move them around from your baskets and machines.
3. Overhaul Your Cleaning Supplies
Concentrated laundry detergent pods are easier to lift than a container of liquid laundry detergent. Microfiber cloths and gloves can make scrubbing stains and messes easier; just be sure to clean up soon after a spill, before stains have time to settle in.
“If you live in a two-story home, be sure to stash cleaning equipment both upstairs and downstairs, so you don’t have to keep running up and down when you’re doing chores,” advises June, 40, as shared on Tippi RA.
4. Revamp Your Kitchen Routine
Rose Vincens of Meraux, Louisiana, uses a chopper to help her dice foods during meal prep. It’s not as big and cumbersome as a food processor and makes just enough servings.
Reese also finds that using a toaster oven rather than the big oven can minimize the amount of bending over she does.
Other helpful devices include using two-handled saucepans, knives with serrated rather than smooth edges, and electric hand-mixers and blenders that work with the push of a button. Jacobs also recommends using kitchen utensils that have rubber-padded handles, which can be gripped more easily.
You should also organize your kitchen so that the items that you use most often are within easy reach, preferably at waist-height. Turntables and drawers that slide out can help make items easier to reach.
5. Make Grocery Shopping Easier
Vincens orders her groceries online and has them delivered. She’s also a fan of buying prepared food, which saves her time and energy. If you prefer going to a brick-and-mortar grocery store, ask the cashier not to overload your bags. And bring your own bags, with shoulder straps, making them easier to transport.
“If you have trouble opening jars and you are going right home, ask the checkers at the grocery store to loosen the jars for you,” suggests Judy, as shared on Tippi RA.
6. Embrace Minimalism
Try to declutter and only hang on to items you truly need or want. The less stuff you have, the less you need to move out of your way when cleaning.
Use lightweight dusters, brooms, and mops with long handles and store them near the area where you use them most.
7. Find the Right Yard Equipment
The strategies you use inside your home apply outside, as well. When doing yardwork, be sure to:
- Use long-handled tools with grips to eliminate bending.
- Keep the tools you need close at hand.
- Use a small watering can to avoid lifting too much weight or use a hose or sprinkler on a timer.
- Invest in gardening gloves that increase your grip and reduce pressure on your finger joints.
- Elevate flower beds so they’re easier to attend to.
8. Ask for Help
Consider recruiting help from others as needed. Delegate tasks to family members or friends who are willing to help. Vincens pays a friend to help her clean — and she’s not the only one who relies on this type of help. Results from one study of people with RA found that over half of respondents received assistance with household chores.
If resources allow, consider hiring outside help to stay on top of household chores without overtaxing your joints.
“Hire a local house cleaner. Seriously! Mine comes twice a month to do floors, kitchen, bath, and dusting,” says Linda, 51, as shared on Tippi RA. “I can easily keep up with the rest between her visits. It’s not that expensive and the stress reduction is priceless.”
The Takeaway
- Managing household chores with rheumatoid arthritis can be physically taxing. But using assistive devices and ergonomic techniques can help protect your joints from unnecessary strain.
- To combat chronic fatigue, try to pace yourself by cleaning only one room a day and taking frequent 10- to 15-minute breaks for rest as needed.
- Some simple modifications can make daily tasks much easier to manage. For example, you could use lightweight cleaning supplies, laundry carts with wheels, and rubber-padded kitchen tools.
- Don’t hesitate to delegate challenging tasks to family members or to hire outside help to ensure your home stays maintained without straining your body.
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