The good news? Taking certain steps can help make your life easier. Start with this room-by-room approach to transform your house into a functional and cozy haven.
Modify Your Kitchen for Psoriatic Arthritis
Preparing daily meals doesn’t have to be a pain. Try these kitchen tips to meal prep without aggravating symptoms.
Store items smartly. Keep the things you use most often on the counter and in cabinets that are the most convenient for you to reach. “The items you use most frequently should be within easy reach so you don’t have to constantly bend, stoop, or reach up high,” says Carole Dodge, OT, an occupational therapy supervisor and clinical specialist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.Get a grip. Use utensils with oversize or extended handles to help you keep a solid grip and reduce the need to overtax your joints. Adding levers to kitchen faucets can also be helpful.Buy chopped vegetables. Standing at the counter doing knife work can quickly become uncomfortable. “Pre-chopped vegetables come in bags in the produce aisle, or you can buy them at your store’s salad bar,” says Dodge.Upgrade your gadgets. Outfit your kitchen with electric appliances such as blenders, can openers, and jar openers to save work and reduce joint pain.Use lightweight cookware. “I recommend getting rid of all of cast-iron skillets and pots, because they can be heavy to pick up,” says Dodge.Use an ergonomic stool. To avoid standing too long during meal prep, pull up a stool by the counter.Modify cabinet handles. Upgrading cabinet handles to ones that are easy to grip can make opening and closing less stressful on your hands.
Make Your Bedroom Psoriatic Arthritis-Friendly
It’s important to start your morning on a good note. You can ensure your bedroom is designed for comfort and well-being with these tips.
Turn up the thermostat. Warmer temperatures may help ease inflammation in the joints. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to raise the temperature in your bedroom by a few degrees before your alarm goes off to help you wake up with less stiffness and pain.Keep medications on your nightstand. Having essentials within arm’s reach is key when you wake up in discomfort. You may want to consider storing a heating pad there, too, as well as a bottle of water, so you can take your medications before you even get out of bed.Invest in a comfortable mattress. The best mattress for arthritis depends on your preferences. It should be firm enough to provide support yet soft enough to cushion your body. And make sure it’s not so high off the ground that it’s difficult to climb in and out of.Make getting dressed easier. “Items such as sock aids, dressing sticks, long-handled shoehorns, and button and zipper hooks are great for people who have difficulty with fine motor manipulation,” says Dodge.Minimize sleep distractions. People who have psoriatic arthritis often suffer from insomnia. To ensure a good night’s sleep, turn off all tablets and phones before bedtime.
Create a Comfortable Living Space
Make your common area a safe and comfortable sanctuary. Start with these suggestions.
Reduce clutter. Make your living space easier to navigate by tossing any unused furniture, boxes, or decorations that take up floor space. And keep electrical cords tucked against the floorboards to lower the odds of tripping and falling.Choose smarter lighting. “Buy lamps that are turned on by just touching the base, or adaptors you can plug any electronic appliance into that make it touch on or touch off,” says Dodge. Installing knob extenders and extra-long cords for ceiling lamps can be more forgiving for arthritic hand joints.Secure area and throw rugs. It just takes one curled corner to trigger a trip and fall. Use double-sided tape to keep carpet edges fixed to the floor or get rid of them altogether if they’re purely decorative.Use furniture that’s the right size. “Leg extenders for couches or chairs can make getting up or down much easier,” says Dodge. And replace extra-soft couch cushions that may make it difficult to get up with firmer options.Upgrade your remote control. Newer models offer voice control features or extra-large buttons. “Call your local cable provider and ask to talk to someone in customer service to see if they offer these amenities in your area,” says Dodge.
Stay Safe in the Bathroom
In a room that can become a slippery fall hazard, it’s important to make safety a priority. Here’s how to transform your bathroom and make it psoriatic arthritis–friendly.
Install grab bars. Wet tiles can be a major safety hazard. “Put grab bars in the shower where there’s the most chance you could slip,” says Dodge. Using a shower seat can also give your joints a rest and help prevent a fall.Use nonskid bath mats. Just as area rugs in the living room can trip you up, so can slippery bath mats.Consider a raised toilet seat. “Depending on the severity of your symptoms, it may help you with getting up and down,” says Dodge.Choose the right water temperature. If you’re also dealing with psoriasis, hot showers can be drying to the skin, so stick with lukewarm temperatures and use a soap or shower gel that’s gentle on sensitive skin.
These simple tips can help make life easier for you if you have psoriatic arthritis. You can avoid unnecessary joint pain by adding some organization to your living space and by investing in a few tools. The exact modifications you need will depend on your specific circumstances. Consider working with an occupational therapist to create an individualized home modification plan that best suits your needs.
