How to Keep Arthritis From Putting a Damper on a Senior Couple's Social Life

Your husband really does want to get out of the house and enjoy life, but arthritis is holding him back! This is perfectly normal. When a person's arthritis is getting him or her down, typically that person can't think past the front door. Or in many cases, even past the bed! Luckily, there is now a wide variety of supplies available to help senior arthritics get out and about !

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Standing Aids
• Mobility Accessories
• Transfer Assists
• Willingness to Try New Ways of Doing Things

1. First order of business is to get your arthritic senior spouse out of the bed. Over the years, manufacturers have come up with a remarkable set of devices called standing aids. Let's look at the various types of standing aids:
   
   Does he have difficulty getting up from his chair or sofa? There
   are neat risers to help him from his chair or grips and canes to get up from the sofa.
   
   Once he's up, can he pivot in place while you assist him with dressing?
   Pivot discs, like lazy susans for people, help arthritic persons accomplish tight maneuvers.
   
   In the car, can he get out by himself? Remember--once in public,
   most men would rather walk through broken glass than have their wife help them out of cars. Strong nylon loops called Car Caddies--strength-rated well past normal weight limits--help him help himself out of the car.
2. Next you should identify aids that can help your spouse move around easier once they are standing. If his doctor has given him the nod, walkers and canes are perhaps the easiest way for him to move around. On top of that, he'll feel more independent. Walkers and canes are lighter and more portable than wheelchairs, preventing caregiver backstrain and pain. When you are the primary one responsible for care taking, you need to remain healthy !
3. Finally, when your spouse needs more stability and support than a walker or cane can provide, wheelchair assistance is often needed. If he's got a wheelchair, he'll probably want some wheelchair add-ons that make going out much more fun. How about a wheelchair backpack to store those library books you'll be picking up? Or a brake lever extension to make him feel safer and more stable? Or if you're going out for coffee, how about a cup holder for that large cup of French Roast?