Given that RA is a disease that can affect mobility and strength, home modifications can make your life much easier. Some home modifications are simpler to make than others. For example, moving from a multilevel home to a single-level home or apartment is a big change, but even small accommodations can make a big difference.
Home modifications can make your life much easier. Even small accommodations can make a big difference.
Arthritis of the hips or knees makes getting up and down from a low seat much more difficult and painful than it is for people without arthritis. Avoiding low chairs is essential. Lift chairs can be helpful, but they are expensive, and many insurance programs require your doctor to provide documentation before they will pay for these devices.
An elevated commode seat is an inexpensive home improvement that will make getting up and down from the toilet easier. Grab bars for the commode and bathtub or shower are also important for accessibility and safety. If getting up and down in the bathtub is difficult, a metal shower stool is another inexpensive device that will make life easier.
Removing doorway thresholds is very helpful for people who use wheelchairs or scooters. If there are stairs at the front door or the house has a front stoop, then a ramp will be needed. Wide doorways and hallways are necessary to ensure accessibility to all rooms of the house.
Lowering the kitchen counters to the level of the wheelchair may also be required. Conversely, platforms for elevating appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines can save you from a lot of bending over. Special door handles that are easier to grasp or have levers instead of knobs are helpful as well.
Some apartment complexes have special “accessible” apartments. If the building doesn't have an elevator, a ground-floor apartment is needed.
RA can severely affect hand function as well. Many adaptive devices can help people with severe hand arthritis manipulate small objects. Specially designed eating utensils are available, but are relatively expensive. Many objects with small handles can be easily adapted with inexpensive equipment such as tubular foam. For example, the tubular foam can be cut to the desired length and then slipped over the handles of eating utensils, hand tools, pens, or pencils. With some creativity, even larger objects such as tennis rackets or golf clubs can be adapted for people with RA.
Numerous books, pamphlets, and websites are available that describe adaptive devices and home modifications that can help people with RA conserve energy and accomplish their activities of daily living with the least number of restrictions. Also, talk to your doctor about any problems that you are experiencing. He or she may recommend a home visit from a physical therapist or occupational therapist. These professionals can be very helpful in making recommendations to modify your home environment or suggesting adaptive devices.