Healing At Home

Posted on: 13 October 2016

Suffering through arthritis can involve severe pains and aches. When arthritis has formed in areas like the hand, it can be very challenging to complete tasks that require fine motor skills or strong grips. Instead of experiencing a lot of pain or struggling through the day, you have the option of hiring home caregivers to help you through the process. These caregivers can be assigned specific tasks that will help you manage your arthritis and make it easier to go through a daily routine that you are used to. Browse through the following four services to see how they can each help with your arthritis and the daily tasks that you need to have completed.

Grocery Shopping

A weekly task like grocery shopping can be made a lot easier with the help of a caregiver. Arthritis in the hands can cause stiffness, pain, and inflammation that makes it hard to grip a variety of items. A caregiver can help you pick up objects like cereal boxes, cans, and drink bottles. Caregiver assistance also makes it easier to shop through produce sections. With arthritis, it may be hard to squeeze fresh fruit or vegetables to tell the ripeness or quality. A caregiver can complete this task for you and help you choose the freshest products. You typically have two options when choosing this service. You can go to the store with the caregiver to help pick out products or you have the option of creating a list and allowing the service to go out and complete the tasks for you. Whatever option is easier is typically your best choice, as these in-home services are typically flexible with various requests.

Meal Preparation

Once the grocery shopping is complete, a caregiver service can provide a lot of meal-preparation options. When you are dealing with arthritis in the hands, it may be hard to open jars, cut foods, or use utensils like knives and forks. During a single visit, a number of meals can be prepared so that you can simply heat the meals and be ready to go when you are ready to eat. For example, a worker can chop up a variety of fresh vegetables and prepare a salad bowl. When you're ready to eat, you can grab one of the bowls and enjoy the meal. Having your meals prepared for the week or a few days will make it a lot easier to eat without putting too much strain on your hands.

Bathing Assistance

Taking a bath is another challenge that people with arthritis may suffer through. It can be hard to enter or exit a tub without the proper grip strength needed to brace your body. A caregiver can help with multiple areas of a bath. Along with helping you in and out of a tub, the bathing assistance may also include turning the water on and setting an appropriate temperature. You may also receive assistance with bathing accessories like opening shampoo bottles or body wash. These seemingly small tasks can have a huge difference on your comfort level when you are receiving proper assistance.

Light Housekeeping

Caregivers can also be hired for a number of light housekeeping tasks around the home. For example, gripping a vacuum or broom can be challenging for those with arthritis in their hands. On a weekly basis, your home can be swept or vacuumed so that it is kept clean and everything is properly taken care of. Small amounts of dishes or dusting may also be done around the home. Tasks like folding clothes could also be completed so that your clothes are organized, and this will make it a lot easier to find outfits each day.

Hiring caregivers for specific tasks can make a huge difference on your daily life. Choosing the services that you need the most can go a long way in helping you keep from suffering through severe pain.