There are more than 200 types of arthritis and rheumatic disease, and more than seven million people in the UK have long-term health problems due to arthritis or a related condition. Not only adults are affected – one child in every thousand has arthritis. Arthritis is the second most common cause of time off work in both men and women.
If you have arthritis, doing chores in the kitchen can make you very aware of your condition. Juliet Stephens finds out how to make life in the kitchen that bit easier.
Can-do cooking Preparing a meal and cleaning up afterwards requires a lot of energy, so reduced mobility and agility can make the whole process very frustrating. ‘Everything takes so much longer,’ says Joan Wilcox, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) seventeen years ago. ‘Just doing simple things, that before my diagnosis I wouldn’t have thought twice about, is difficult.’
The different ways that people are affected by arthritis determines which tasks are more challenging. Cathy Wilson was diagnosed with fibromyalgia seven years ago. She explains that there are a lot of things that she isn’t able to do because of the pain in her wrists. ‘I find simple things, like lifting pans, using the kettle, even pressing the button on the microwave door, very difficult.’
Arthritis in the hands, wrists and arms, tends to make gripping, cutting and peeling more difficult. Standing for long periods of time, and bending down, can be more problematic if it is your lower body that is affected.
‘The most common issues tend to be with opening jars, cans, cartons and bottles,’ notes Sheila King, head of elderly services at The Meadows Day Hospital in Epsom. ‘But there are lots of wonderful gadgets available, and most of them aren’t too expensive.’
Of necessity, people with arthritis develop ingenious ways of getting around things, so sharing hints and tips from personal experience can also be tremendously rewarding. Liz Barnes has had OA for fourteen years. She says that meeting people and sharing ideas – like putting a cloth through cupboard handles to make them easier to pull – was, for her, one of the most positive aspects of the Challenging Arthritis self-management course.
‘I try to do things in short bursts,’ she says. ‘I try to get a lot of cooking done when I’m feeling healthier, so I can fill my freezer and be prepared for when I’m feeling low.’
Having difficulty in the kitchen can have a psychological impact, as Catherine Jones reflects: ‘It’s got to the extent that I now feel like a stranger in my own kitchen. It feels like my husband’s kitchen, and I feel like I’m intruding.’ It is good to talk through emotions like these with a friend, or a professional.
Getting organised Making life easier for yourself in the kitchen will go a long way towards avoiding negative feelings building up. One way of doing this is to consider the layout of the room. An uncluttered kitchen makes moving around easier, and reduces the risk of falls. It is advisable to make sure you have enough space available – move the kitchen table to the wall, if it is in the middle of the room, for example.
Ideally, appliances should be accessible, and situated conveniently: the oven or microwave near work surfaces, to transfer ingredients more easily. Equally, make sure the sink or dishwasher is close to the oven, so putting dishes aside for washing up is simpler. It’s often easier to drag pans, rather than having to lift them, so work surfaces should ideally be even.
It also makes sense to store the ingredients that you use most in easy-to-reach places. A small stepladder is useful if you keep ingredients on shelves, and a carousel cupboard – in which each shelf can be rotated – is very convenient, especially for those who have problems bending.
If you are unsteady on your feet or need some stability when getting up from sitting, having a grab rail to hold on to and maintain balance naturally inspires confidence. ‘Another solution is a trolley,’ says Margaret McNally, a senior occupational therapist at the Surrey and Borders NHS Trust. ‘They are sturdy and make transporting things quicker and easier.’
Cathy Wilson had a brand new kitchen put in. ‘It involved new plumbing and wiring, but the work surfaces are the same level now, and the sockets are high enough for me,’ she says.
Some people are conscious that their condition may change in the future. This has affected Liz Barnes’s mindset in planning her new kitchen. ‘Although I don’t need a lot of these things now, it’s good to know that they’re out there, so I know what’s available to me. I’m amazed that I think like this.’
Sometimes an extra pair of hands can really take the pressure off. There is no shame in asking a friend, family member or even an external source, to help out sometimes. Catherine Jones agrees: ‘I reluctantly have to hand over chores to my husband. I’ve resigned myself to him chopping and washing the vegetables, although I will use whatever I can to do whatever I can.’
Getting equipped Shop-bought gadgets can be cheap and effective, although it’s good to be creative in helping yourself, using household items that you already have. You need to look for things that meet the purpose,’ advises Sheila. Catherine Jones says that she has attached a rubber stopper to the end of a stick. ‘I use it for opening the microwave, operating the TV – any stiff buttons really.’
Margaret is a great fan of the perching stool – which supports gently, in neither a sitting nor standing position. ‘Because they’re adjustable, they can help people of any height,’ she enthuses. ‘You can also find some that have arm rests and back rests that can support the whole body.’
As cooking involves mostly standing, stools are particularly useful. ‘After my hip replacement operation I wasn’t able to carry anything; I would have to drink tea where I had made it,’ says Liz. ‘Now I couldn’t be without my percher.’
‘Being British, it’s important to be able to make a nice cuppa,’ jokes Margaret. If arthritis in your hands makes this difficult, a ‘tipper’ is available. The kettle is held securely on an axle so you don’t need to lift it, and you don’t risk spilling the water.
The manual action of opening jars, tins and bottles can be difficult and frustrating. Cardboard boxes wrapped in cellophane, new designs of milk cartons, pill bottle tops and other packaging often leaves people using knives or scissors to get into it, which presents an obvious hazard.
Removing lids sometimes requires force so that the contents spill everywhere. Sheila King has a solution: ‘Put a clean towel underneath, so that if it does spill, it won’t scatter all over the floor.’
Taps and gas hobs that require twisting can also be tricky, so occupational therapists usually recommend levers, which just sit on top of the tap, effectively creating a larger tap, which is easier to turn.
Preparing vegetables for cooking can be difficult, but there are different devices to choose from. U-shaped peelers do not require the tight grip, unlike a traditional peeler, and knives come in various shapes to accommodate numerous different needs.
Large-handled, foam-grip knives are useful, but, equally, a knife where the handle is perpendicular to the blade can make chopping easier as it uses a sawing action.
Safety first It is important to remember a few safety tips. ‘Remember simple things like turning pan handles in, so there’s less risk of knocking them off the hob,’ advises Sheila King. When taking food out of the oven, it’s a good idea to use longer oven gloves that will protect your forearms. ‘Non-slip kitchenware is particularly useful,’ suggests Margaret. Some chopping boards include an adjustable clamping device, which holds the food in place while you cut it. A more expensive solution is to invest in a food processor. It’s easy to operate, performs a number of different tasks, and doesn’t take up much space in the kitchen.
Less effort equals more pleasure Cooking a meal takes longer if you have arthritis, so it’s good to be organised and plan what you’ll need to do and when. It takes a bit of practice to get it right, which is where a microwave can come in handy as it cooks very quickly and is easy to use.
There is an enormous range of microwave meals available from the supermarket, but check out the healthier options that are lower in salt. Because microwaves take up less space they can be stored higher, which some people find easier. ‘A word of warning about ready meals, however,’ says Sheila King. ‘While the container is sturdy when cold, it can soften in the microwave, so take care when removing it.’
To avoid any chopping at all, most supermarkets these days stock pre-chopped, pre-washed, pre-packaged vegetables, which, although more expensive than buying loose vegetables, are very convenient.
There is plenty of scope for making kitchens more accessible and cooking more manageable. You will have to contact your GP if you want to arrange for an occupational therapist to conduct an assessment of your kitchen and advise on amendments.
It might seem a lot of trouble, but once you are organised, cooking can be a positive way to maintain independence. It provides mental stimulation, and can be a useful distraction technique. There are social benefits too. Consider the satisfaction of seeing people enjoy your food when you cook for them.
After your meal, don’t forget the benefits of gentle exercise either. ‘Washing up in warm water can ease painful joints in the hands,’ advises Margaret. Which could be just what you need after demonstrating those culinary skills.
This article has been reproduced with the permission of Arthritis News, a lifestyle magazine for people with arthritis produced by Arthritis Care six times a year. A yearly subscription to Arthritis News costs just £12, call 020 7380 6540 for details or go to:www.arthritiscare.org.uk
There are more than 200 types of arthritis and rheumatic disease, and more than seven million people in the UK have long-term health problems due to arthritis or a related condition. Not only adults are affected – one child in every thousand has arthritis. Arthritis is the second most common cause of time off work in both men and women. 
