Bedroom

Zipper pulls can be added to zippers to make them easier to open and close. A key ring or a soft loop of fabric can be attached through the hole in the zipper tab. You can hook one finger through the ring instead of pinching the tab, making the task easier and reducing strain on your thumb and index finger.

Where to buy:

• Pharmacies
• Online
• Home health stores
• Make your own!

Pain, stiffness, swelling or loss of dexterity in your finger joints can affect your ability to button up your clothes. A button hook/aid enables you to fasten buttons of various sizes more easily. This device helps guide the buttons through the holes without the need to use your fingers.

Where to buy:

• Online
• Home health stores

Pain, stiffness, swelling or loss of dexterity in your finger joints can affect your ability to dress. Velcro can be a good fastening alternative instead of buttons and zippers that can be hard to manipulate with your fingers. Velcro is a type of fastener that consists of two surfaces, one with small plastic hooks, and the other with small plastic loops that stick together. This material is commonly found on clothes and accessories.

Where to buy:

• Online
• Fabric stores
• Department stores
• Art supply stores
• Office supply stores
• Home improvement stores

Bending at the hips and knees can be painful with arthritis. A shoehorn can make it easier to put your shoes on while minimizing bending. Placing the curved end of the shoehorn behind the heel of your foot and pushing your foot down will allow the shoehorn to slide your foot into the shoe. Shoehorns vary in length and material.

Where to buy:

• Online
• Home health stores
• Department stores
• Shoe stores

Bending at the hips and knees and stretching a sock can be painful. A sock aid can help you put your socks on independently while minimizing bending and gripping. To use this device, first put the sock aid into your sock. Next, grasp the handles on the aid and pull them up to pull the sock onto your foot. The are many variations of sock aids, such as rigid and flexible sock aids. Some are easier to use than others.

Where to buy:

• Online
• Home health stores

Arthritis can make bending at the knee and hip painful when getting up from furniture. Bed risers are plastic devices that are added under the legs of your bed or couch to increase its height and make it easier to get up, with decreased energy use, strain, and pain.

Where to buy:

• Home improvement stores
• Mattress stores
• Online
• Department stores
• Furniture stores