Hacks for living with arthritis
Small tweaks and stylish changes help make the bathroom a safer place to be
ACCORDING to the NHS, more than ten million people in the UK have arthritis or similar conditions affecting the joints, most commonly the hands, spine, knees and hips. Symptoms include pain or tenderness, inflammation and restricted movement, and it can cause weakness and muscle wasting, making daily tasks hard and painful. But there are ways to reduce this. Changes in the bathroom, can improve quality of life, for example. When it comes to toothpaste, shower gel and shampoo, look for products that have pump action dispensers, as these require less grip strength and dexterity. An electric toothbrush requires much less effort. And adapting the bathroom can certainly help. A walk-in shower with a low threshold removes the difficulty of climbing in and out of a bath, while a folding or fixed shower seat will allow you to take the weight off your knees, hips and spine while you wash. Easy lever shower valves are useful for hands that are swollen and painful from arthritis, and a nonslip shower tray will help prevent nasty falls.
If you prefer a bath, a long relaxing soak at the end of the day can help soothe the aching of stiff joints and prepare you for a comfortable night’s sleep, particularly if you add Epsom salts to the bath water — these contain magnesium which helps reduce the swelling and pain of arthritis.
Choose a walk-in bath and you can even add air spa body massage, chromotherapy and a Bluetooth sound system for the ultimate in bathtimes. EA Mobility’s friendly assessors will treat your enquiry with empathy and respect for your dignity and privacy. They also strive to create pleasant bathroom environments where you can begin and end each day in comfort, using products that are stylish as well as functional.