Hints tips & gadget info you can pass on to us struggling newbies

[Narniesangel73]

In a recent post I did about struggling , the lovely ‘sylvi’ shared how putting bathroom products in pump containers helped.

This as led me to thinking , what changes have you made to make your day a little easier? 💕💕

[Hidden]

Scissors everywhere and ‘plug tugs’ (packs of 10 cheap as chips amazon), splints for housework or aching hands; sometimes sleep in them, microwave bean bags (hot or cold). Bought loads of stuff, some useless but use these all the time, hope that’s a help. X 😀

[Narniesangel73 in reply to Hidden]

I just ordered some plug tugs , I really need them in my life. 💕💕

[Hidden in reply to Narniesangel73]

Don’t last forever but great: I can’t pull a plug to save my life lol x

[ruth_p]

I’ve swapped to an electric toothbrush as well as using an electric whisk and my blender for cooking.

[Shelley1701]

I've got a sheet of anti slip matting. Cut it up and use it to grip jars and bottles to open them. Works better than a lot of the gadgets on the market and cheaper. Got it from Poundland (alas that will soon be gone) and The Range sell it near me.

[AgedCrone in reply to Shelley1701]

Don't worry Shelley......Poundland continues for now...it's PoundWorld that has bitten the dust!

[premierscfc]

The aid that I use every week (I'm on my sencond) and I wouldn't be without is my 'Baby Boa' bit.ly/2vnYjC7

It is the only aid that allows me to open bottles and jars.

[sylvi]

Litter pickers so you don't have to bend too much if your back is bad. There are too sizes long and short.xxxx

[Narniesangel73 in reply to sylvi]

I’ve had one of these for years trouble is I need to wear it round my neck as I can never remember where I’ve left it 🤪

[Hidden]

Shopping trolley! I bought a posh one that you can push as well as pull. I couldn't manage without it. I kept putting it off for vanity reasons (stupid). I simply can't carry shopping bags, and s heavy back pack us out. I use it for everything...launderette, shopping, travelling. Blooming brilliant!

I am going to have to get some bathroom aids. Grip handles, and something to help me in and out of Bath.

[Nessa28 in reply to Hidden]

Love mine . My kids cringe , but love it when we go out as it's all in the trolley and no one has to carry anything . I also love the fact I can lean on it at tills etc . I went for a jazzy one ten years ago and haven't looked backwards 💐

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely: forgotten bout that, amazing ‘old git’ trolley a/c to my kids before they dump their stuff in it 😂

[nomoreheels]

As you can imagine this is a popular subject which we discuss from time to time & I was going to suggest you check out Related Posts on rh side of the page but for some reason there isn't one. You could use the Search box but these are a couple of threads I've pulled out to see if they're of any help to you.

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

[Narniesangel73 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks I will have a look. 💕💕

[nomoreheels in reply to Narniesangel73]

You're welcome. By far the most helpful 'gadget' (& no cost) I have is an old rubber glove, it's grippy enough to open most difficult tops. Best kitchen/personal helpers are Oxo Good Grips rocker knife & long handles shoe horn... for the moment anyway, they change according to me needs! Best household helper I have is the Gtech AirRam, brilliantly designed for those of us who struggle with reduced hand & arm strength when vacuuming, I can wizz round with it whereas with my previous Dyson I'd to rest after each room. The hand held is great for smaller jobs too.

I hope you find lots of new help from your post.

[popsmith1874]

The anti slip strips for opening jars are great, the electric tin opener, bath chair, the litter picker, the fingerless gloves for my hands are great and the wrist supports brill

[Narniesangel73 in reply to popsmith1874]

Thanks pops the first thing I bought was compression gloves as I was crying through the night with my hands. They make me smile when I take em off too as my hands are my old hands not huge sausage fingers n knuckles😟

[helenlw7]

When I started thinking about this, it made me realise how much I’ve adapted my life in the past 14 years, and gadgets or ways of doing things I take for granted now, I wouldn’t have needed pre RA. An electric can opener, light weight pans, electric soap dispenser, sports tops rather than conventional bras. My most useful/helpful device is my husband. He does most of the cooking , comes shopping with me to carry bags and reach stuff I can’t reach if shelves.

[Caza in reply to helenlw7]

Ok where do you get these helpful husbands from? & do they take non helpful husbands in part exchange 🤣

[Narniesangel73 in reply to Caza]

🤣🤣🤪🤪 can’t stop giggling. I have the same model as helenlw7 💕💕

[helenlw7 in reply to Caza]

Don’t get me wrong, my husband isn’t perfect. There’s lots of things he doesn’t do - washing, ironing, hoovering, but he can see when I’m struggling and is quietly supportive. He understands that the place I find the least stressful, so when life just gets a bit hard he says we’re off in the caravan and we decide together where to go. We actually go to a site only ten miles from home in between longer trips, and it is great.

[sylvi in reply to Caza]

I also have a wonderful usual hubby who not only cooks he cleans,does all the washing and the shopping this while keeping two allotments. Did i say he is also retired and he said he is busier now than when he was at work.xxx

[Narniesangel73 in reply to helenlw7]

Wow loads of ideas , like the sound of sports tops. How come men can undo bras but not fasten em 🤪

[Nsmith13]

Any thing you can pull on including bras nothing to fasen on clothing just flop it on and you do adapt without thinking at times I've got a little walker rollator seat bag tray on it soooooooo handy in or outdoors, I hate purses !!!!!

[Gnarli in reply to Nsmith13]

Me too!

[nomoreheels in reply to Nsmith13]

Have you considered a tray purse NS if coins are an issue for you? I can't find a pic of mine which is a Tula but it's very similar to this ebay.co.uk/itm/Ladies-Quali.... Mine isn't a zip round it fastens with a press-stud but it's really easily accessible even with my stiff & sore OA hands.

[Nsmith13 in reply to nomoreheels]

tray purse looks just perfect, I will have a lookIn tk max thankyou I've never seen one before it all helps and my birthday on 13th soooooooo I can drop a few hints 🤗

[Narniesangel73 in reply to nomoreheels]

Ooh I really like the look of this, In the past I’ve handed my purse over at the till 😳💕💕

[Pulfs]

Light weight rechargeable vaccum I keep 1 upstairs and 1 down saves carry up and down. Slow cooker easier than trying to lift casserole out of oven.

And after showering I use 2 small towels rather than struggling with z bath sheet.

[Mummyola]

I have two Dyson rechargeable vacuum cleaners lightweight one up one down, a hot water heater dispenser for making tea, as I nearly dropped the boiling kettle, I have a coffee machine also, electric can opener, tooth brush and whisks for mixing food a food processor, slow cooker, light weight pots and pans. A long and short arm grabber if I drop something. My Husband loosens jars for me, leaves them in the fridge with cling film on the top. If I’m really bad I have an office chair to move around the kitchen, and sit on too iron, I have a steamer lightweight iron which has an ergonomic handle.

[weathervane]

I would be lost with out my electric tin opener, a wee gadget for open bottles and when I slipped a disc a friend got me a long handled shoehorn 😀

[Mmrr]

I need a new hoover, mine is just too heavy ....I was thinking of a robohoover, anyone else use one ?

[crashdoll]

I mostly buy frozen fruit and veg to save on chopping . It’s actually more cost effective as I don’t throw any food away. It keeps it fresh too.

Some time ago, I forked out on a lightweight dyson and I still struggled, so I wish I hadn’t bothered. Also interested in any actual lightweight vacuums that are easy to use as mine is not working so well any more.

[nomoreheels in reply to crashdoll]

I can't fault the Gtech AirRam. Beats my old Dyson into a cocked hat.

[Narniesangel73]

Thankyou to all you of you 😊

I’ve spent the evening online shopping.

I’ve had back / pelvic problems for years and had learnt what to tweak but this affecting my hands as really hit me hard. My hubby is amazing at housework etc but I used to love sitting in kitchen n preparing meals together. I can still peel the veg but can no longer chop, is their a magic tool I don’t know of as I love fresh veg for cooking ? 💕💕

[nablur]

I have a lot of ice packs. I could not live without them!

[Narniesangel73 in reply to nablur]

First thing in a morning it’s warm water if my hands are stiff. Apart from that it’s ice packs for me too. I still use frozen peas however I found this method online that I use.

Wet a sponge and place in a zip loc bag and freeze for 1/2 hours. I’ve even tweaked this to using a large car wash sponge that I tie around a round tub of ice cream , makes a great shaped ice pack for swollen knees💕💕

[JEM95]

My best (and biggest) aid is my dishwasher. I really struggle to hold things whilst washing them up (and drying them) and used to break or chip so much.

I have a big smile on my face every time I use the dishwasher as it helps so much.

I find pens are a real pain, but have found some with a soft, squishy section which helps me hold them and write.

A mini rucksack is easier than carrying a handbag / shopping bag.

I have a protective leather cover on my mobile phone as Im always dropping it.

Some great ideas on here!

[JEM95 in reply to JEM95]

I’d like one of those helpful husbands but alas it’s just me, the dog & the cat!