Bought a few mobility aids recently, whilst experiencing my worst ever flare up in 17 years of RA.
A raised toilet seat - so simple but an absolute Godsend. A bath board and bath step - also very useful.
But my favourite 'thing' (or 'things' as I bought two for different rooms) that I use a lot and didn't cost that much is a backscratcher. It's got a long flat handle that I use as a shoe horn to help get my slippers on. I also use it as a claw to pull them closer if I'm feeling particularly stiff. It works as a dressing aid to help me get a zip fleece off my shoulders. A prodder to help me push the shower off button from my bath board. And, oddly enough, I've also used it to scratch my back and head! 😁
I've always liked improvising - are there items anyone else has found alternative uses for?
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whitedog
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I agree .. fantastic items!! It’s my most useful item although I have a very useful very long shoe horn from IKEA which is black and white snake. I attach a nail file with some parcel tape to the handle end of the backscratcher and do my own pedicure! I also use it to push and prod things with! (Not my husband you’ll be very glad to hear. 😝🤣)
Ditto! 😁 I wind some cotton wool (a long strip from an old fashioned type roll) round my backscratcher handle end and use this for applying some moisturiser to my back.
The last time I had a bath and struggled to get out, I held onto the taps and with feet dug into the bathmat, eventually hauled myself forward and up.
Sounds mad but I was trying to think of something I could put round the taps to grip on and was going to use either a couple of strong rubber ring dog toys or the longer tug type that has handles at both ends.
What about twisting over and turning to get yourself on to your hands and knees? Gives you leverage to get up then - I found that easier - even if it’s from my side
Too painful at the moment as all my joints are in flare up.
Can't put pressure down on my hands and wrists and can't kneel but hoping after my second infusion I might start feeling more able. It's like my whole body's been suddenly under attack over the last month or two!
I bought a thing to help put moisturiser on my back but I use it to turn the extractor on and off as the builders put the button up too high for me to reach!
I bought this applicator from the jungle shop for applying moisturiser to my back. Not as good as having hubby do it but sadly he passed away in 2022. It has changeable heads and can be cleaned reasonably well. Works ok if your hands can manage gripping the handle.
Ikea are now doing an even longer shoe horn - 80cm. I bought 2 recently, they're £3 each, made of metal so shouldn't snap like the plastic ones. I thought the £5 delivery was fair, given I don't live close to an Ikea store.
Me and my hubby have raised toilet seats in bathroom and downstairs cloakroom. The height makes its more comfortable using the toilet. We even have one we keep boxed up to take away when going on holiday in the car. We have the long handle shoe horns from IKEA and also a Sox On which is so helpful to put socks, pop socks and stockings on, so easy. I also have a piece of dowling about a 12 inches long with a open hook screwed in the end, This helps me zip up my boots. Thanks for sharing the different ideas to make things easier for every day tasks.
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