People with arthritis may have difficulty and/or pain when performing some everyday tasks. Mobility equipment can help people move through life more easily. These tools and devices may include ramps, large-handled utensils and stationery, toilet and bathroom equipment, dressing sticks, and much 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. Those with foot 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 can order tools and aids to make life easier and keep people mobile in their everyday lives.
Tools that suit 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.
What is available
Here are some useful videos on what tools, aids and assistive devices you could find.
How to get tools and aids
Ask your GP for a referral to the hospital's occupational therapy department for government-funded equipment, search for an occupational therapist yourself, or ask your GP for a referral to the NASC service for a needs assessment for more complex needs.
You can also purchase your own tools through a mobility store.
Where to buy
There are physical stores such as The Warehouse and Chemist Warehouse that sell useful products, as well as online stores where you can buy tools and devices to help you with your everyday living. Here are some quick links to stores you can try: