Those living with Rheumatoid Arthritis often have difficulty with daily activities and cooking is no exception. This chronic condition causes inflammation at the joints and surrounding tissues. This can affect your ability to use a cutting board, open jars, carry pots and stand for long periods of time.

But by using certain kitchen tools and modifying your kitchen environment, you can decrease the amount of stress placed on your joints. If you or a loved has Rheumatoid Arthritis, follow these tips to make cooking easier.

Use Adaptive Kitchen Tools

• Speed up and reduce prep work with a food processor
• Decrease…

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Installing grab bars in the bathroom are a great way to improve the safety of the older adults in our lives. But there’s more to improving safety than just purchasing a pair of grab bars. Try these helpful tips to improve the safety of your loved one when they’re getting in and out of the tub.

Concentration Counts

• Getting in and out of the tub requires concentration
• Your loved one may need help in the bathroom if they have difficulty with attention or concentration

Practice Makes Perfect

• Practice using newly installed grab bars before…

Flashback to your childhood and recall what your parents would say to you if you were about to do something that could cause harm to yourself, like climb out of the crib or venture into the street. It was usually a resounding, “No!” They were trying to protect you, and you may or may not have known it then but it was for your own good. Today, it seems children rarely hear the word no.

Some parents, when put to the test, will say they want their child to figure it out,…

According to the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving, there are 8.9 million people in the U.S. caring for someone over the age of 50 who has dementia. This is a full 20 percent of all family caregivers in this country. Caregivers of dementia patients are under particular pressures due to the long-term nature of the condition; they can face daily challenges communicating with their family members, managing their security, and helping them with the activities of daily living. As a result, many caregivers find themselves struggling to maintain their…

If you’re not sure about which walking device is the right one for a loved one with mobility issues then you’re not alone. There are a numerous amount of choices that available both online and at your local medical supply store.

I have found many people end up choosing the rollator because of its features. This is not surprising when you consider it has a fold down seat, travel basket, four wheels and a set of brakes.

Now before you run out to the store to purchase a rollator you need to understand that it’s not the right device for everyone.…

Did you know that using a cane or walker that has not been adjusted for your height can actually cause more harm than good? I’m always concerned when I see people using walking devices that are either too long or short because it can change their walking pattern and may not provide adequate amount of support. This can result in an increased risk of falls and injury to the shoulder or hip.

So how do you know if your walking device is set at the proper length? When you hold your walking device in standing position…

According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year about one in three older adults will experience a fall. Many of these falls occur in the home due to the presence of safety hazards. I have found the stairwell to be a common area for falls to occur.

Fortunately safety hazards can be corrected. Follow these steps to improve the safety of your stairwell.

1. Simply remove any clutter which also includes the shoes on the steps or that favorite sweater hanging off the handrail
2. Make sure there is adequate lighting available
3. Repair any damaged steps…

During the holiday season something to be thankful for is the health of loved ones. Recently the caregiver of a gentleman I was working with invited me to have a cup of her home made yogurt. To my surprise I didn’t know it was even possible to make yogurt from scratch and yes it was much better than the store bought version.

The caregiver simply wanted to express her gratitude to all the people who assisted her husband’s transition back home after a prolonged hospital stay. Although her husband was returning to a…

It’s no surprise that many successful athletes have been able to prolong their careers by taking care of their bodies. At age 42, relief pitcher Mariano Riveria who is famous for his conditioning regimen continues to help the New York Yankees win close games. He also happens to be their oldest player in a sport that values youth.

Equally if not more impressive are the elderly I work with who continue to take care of their bodies by staying physically active. Here are some of the ways I have observed how…