Arthritis Tools and Aids
What Are Arthritis Tools, Aids and Assistive Devices?
What tools can help someone with arthritis? Arthritis Tools and Aids are assistive devices, gadgets or products that maintain or improve a person’s ability to function and perform tasks independently, enhancing overall wellbeing and preserving mana and independence.
People with Arthritis may have difficulty and/or pain when performing some everyday tasks and can move through life more easily with the assistance of specifically designed devices and technologies. Mobility equipment or assistive devices may include ramps, mobility aids, large-handled utensils and pens, toilet and chair raisers, shower stools, dressing sticks, and more.
People with hand arthritis can benefit from adaptive equipment to minimise strong forces through the hands and fingers such as jar openers, electric can openers, and key-turners, while those with feet arthritis may find shoe inserts, elastic shoelaces, a shoehorn, and foot strengthening products such as the Aircycle assist function and reduce pain.
Arthritis NZ has curated some mobility online stores from which people with Arthritis can order tools and aids to make life easier and keep people mobile in their everyday living.
Occasionally we sell Arthritis tools and aids, so keep an eye on this page to see when items become available. Sometimes we charge a competitive price for items, and other times we only charge the postage cost. It depends on how the items were sourced.
An Arthritis tool or aid that suits one person may not suit another, but when you find something that works for you, it can positively impact your quality of life and the health and wellbeing of your whānau. Sometimes it can be a struggle to know what will work for you – an occupational therapist can analyse your skills and abilities and adapt a product or source equipment that supports your individual needs. Ask for a referral through your GP to the Occupational Therapy department of the hospital for government funded equipment, or to the NASC service for a needs assessment for more complex needs, find a registered therapist through Occupational Therapy New Zealand or purchase your own tools through a mobility store.
Definition of an assistive product: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines assistive products as any product, primarily produced or generally available, that is used by or for persons with disability: for participation; to protect, support, train, measure or substitute for body functions/structures and activities; or to prevent impairments, activity limitations or participation restrictions.
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