For many of us, after a long day at work it's hard to think about heading into the kitchen to cook. For anyone with arthritis it can be simply overwhelming. Yet, eating a nutritious meal is important. Here are five simple things you can do to make cooking easier for an older person with arthritis.
1. Organize
Arthritis often affects the joints in the hands, arms and shoulders, and the hips and knees. When these important joints are painful, grasping things stored in cabinets above your head or down low is difficult. If you lose your grip on something and it falls it can be downright dangerous. Make the one-time effort to help your parent rearrange the kitchen cabinets and storage areas so that the things used most frequently are easy to reach without bending or stretching. This will be a one-time project that will pay off in spades forever.
2. Sit Whenever Possible
Standing for any length of time when you have arthritis can be painful, so help your parent sit whenever possible while preparing a meal. She can prepare ingredients and stir pots while sitting, and that will spare her legs, back and feet. Sitting on something that is too low will be uncomfortable, so make sure to find a stool that puts her counter or other work space at waist height. Beware of any chairs or stools with wheels or casters, as these can roll out from under her and lead to a nasty fall.
3. Get Ergonomic
Ergonomic tools designed to spare arthritic hands, wrists and fingers will go a long way toward making food preparation easier when joints are acting up. Tools with fat padded handles are easier for painful hands and fingers to grasp. At the very least, have on hand an ergonomic vegetable peeler, paring knife, general purpose knife and a good spoon and spatula. Rocker knives are a nice addition so he can cut with one hand if he needs to. Keep those knives sharp so he can use the least amount of pressure and energy.
4. Use Those Appliances
Put the food processor on the counter and encourage your parent to use it whenever possible to slice, dice, shred and mix instead of doing all the nitpicky work by hand. If she doesn't have one, prices have come down considerably, and a simple food processor is a good investment. The same can be said for that old crock pot. Pop pre-cut vegetables, pre-cut meat, and a few spices or seasonings into a crock pot and voila, a meal.
5. Never Carry When You Can Roll
A rolling trolley saves a thousand steps, and saving steps is the goal when you have arthritis. Your parent can use it to move all the required ingredients from the cupboards and the refrigerator to the prep area, and then to the oven or stove. If the surface is heat tolerant it can be used to roll food from the stove or oven to the table. If the surface isn't heat resistant, put a thick towel down and hot foods won't hurt the surface. A rolling trolley will carry dishes, flatware, condiments, and anything else you can think of from kitchen to eating area, and back, in one easy trip each way. You're going to want one of these for yourself, even if you don't have arthritis.
If your parent wants to stay at home as long as possible, being able to do what needs to be done to fix a proper meal is important. Poor nutrition is a big contributor to accidents and illnesses that force older people to move from the omes they love. Some degree of arthritis is common as we age. Making small improvements in the kitchen can contribute in a big way to an older person being able to stay at home safely. Help your parent make some of these little adjustments now and you may be able to postpone your nutritional concerns for some time to come.
