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The Arthritis Friendly Kitchen

Cooking a full meal can be an exhausting task for many of us, but it doesnt have to be. With careful planning and preparation cooking can actually be an enjoyable experience.

The first step to easy cooking is to make your kitchen arthritis-friendly. Im not talking about a complete remodeling to make it totally accessible. That would be wonderful, but not a realistic option for most of us. Your budget will determine just how fancy you can get. Even if the budget is limited there are a number of inexpensive solutions to common problems.

A roll of Rubbermaid shelf liner, the kind that is made out of that rubbery mesh stuff, is invaluable in the kitchen. Use it under mixing bowls to hold them in place. Wrap it around utensil handles and secure with a rubber band. The tacky, rubber surface makes them much easier to grip. Use it to help grasp jar lids for easier opening. The list is endless. Grab a roll for a couple of bucks; it is well worth the investment.

Another great kitchen tool is an adjustable height office chair with wheels, maybe just like the one you are sitting in now. You can raise the height to a comfortable level and sit it in while cooking and preparing meals. The wheels make it easy to scoot from the counter to the stove to the fridge. You can even sit in it while mopping and sweeping the floor.

This one is totally free, logistics. Think about what items you use most. Put those items in the easiest to reach places. Organize so you can grab one thing without the entire cupboard contents tumbling out. Recognizing new and better places to put things will help facilitate easy living. For example, if it's difficult to bend to the floor, try hanging the garbage bag from a hook in your broom closet. Keep frequently used utensils or even dishes in lower cabinets so you can reach them easily.

Arthritis-friendly utensils are available. Many are not marketed as arthritis-friendly so you need to do some investigating. Look for utensils with big, cushy, and easy to grip handles. Under counter mounted jar openers make it possible to open a jar with very little stress on the joints. Some can openers have shelves to hold the can. A utility cart on wheels is great for putting dishes away, unload the dishwasher onto the cart it and push it from cupboard to cupboard. Oven rack pullers are notched paddles that allow you to slide the oven rack out without putting your hand in the oven. The list is endless, look through catalogs, surf the web, and youll be amazed at the amount of products out there.

Appliances are probably the most expensive items that we need to consider changing. As your present appliances wear out, replace them with arthritis-friendly versions. When the stove lights its last fire, consider getting one with the oven on top. Bending over to use the oven can be very difficult for those with back or knee problems. And of course make sure it is self-cleaning! A side-by-side refrigerator/freezer is easier to use for most of us and the newer models have slide out shelves so there is less reaching required.

Replacing the sink is probably not something any of us want to consider, but think about how much time you spend at the kitchen sink. Removing the cupboard below the sink gives knee room so you can sit in a chair or use a stool when working at the sink. It's also helpful to replace the faucet with a single-lever handle for easier, one-handed control. Some faucets are no-touch faucets that have sensors to sense hands below them, then water flows for a programmed amount of time you specify. A spray nozzle reaches far to rinse off dishes or clean fruits and vegetables. If you can replace your sink, buy a shallow one that slopes in front for easy access. Often, a sink can be repositioned a little higher or lower, eliminating the need to replace it.

Tina Underwood
Page last updated on March 21, 2001