Arthritis and everyday tasks

The jobs that come up again and again are the ones that need a hard twist or a tight pinch: jar lids, keys, taps, pill caps, small buttons. The second group is anything near the floor or down at your feet, like socks, shoelaces, toenails and the spoon that rolled under the table.

Below, the guides are grouped by where the job happens, from the kitchen to the bathroom. Open the one you're stuck on. Each starts with changes that cost nothing, then the one or two tools that swap a twist for a push or a lever, then what isn't worth buying. If your hands and your back both get in the way, there are separate guides for grip and for bending, because the fix is different.

An occupational therapist can look at your hands and your kitchen together and tell you which of these ideas suit you.