A big part of being able to remain living independently is being able to provide meals for yourself. If you have an elderly loved one who desires to age in place (live independently in her home) but has osteoarthritis in her hands, you might wonder how she’ll manage to keep preparing and enjoying the healthy meals she needs.
Osteoarthritis’ Effects on the Hands
Pain, stiffness, and swelling are all common symptoms of osteoarthritis. As the disease progresses, the cartilage around the joints breaks down and causes bone to run against bone, causing inflammation and pain. Osteoarthritis attacks three main areas of the hand – the base of the thumb, the joints of fingers closest to the fingertips, and the middle joints of the fingers. These parts of the hands are all essential when preparing meals made from fresh ingredients.
Eating Fresh while Managing Osteoarthritis Symptoms
For some, they might want to switch to all prepackaged, or frozen meals. Maybe delivery seems easier, but food made from fresh ingredients such as veggies, fruits, and lean meats will help your loved one’s immune system remain strong and, in the end, provide her with better overall health.
Tips for Food Prep for Seniors with Osteoarthritis
- Consider investing in some assistive tools. There are plenty of kitchen tools out there that are specifically made to help with tasks involved in preparing meals. Something as simple as an electric opener can help reduce your loved one need to try to open cans with a manual opener. A jar opener can assist with popping those lids off tight jars. A pair of scissors made for arthritic hands can allow her to open a bag of produce.
- Move things around a bit. If hand and wrist strength have diminished, reaching up to pull a heavy bag of flour off a top shelf can be dangerous (and messy!). Review your loved one’s kitchen to see what items she uses the most and place them within reach.
- Buy smaller quantities. If strength is an issue, consider buying in smaller quantities. A half-gallon of milk is much easier to pour than a full gallon. If you cannot purchase smaller quantities or if money is a concern, purchase items at home to separate the larger quantity of products into smaller containers that are easily manageable.
- Purchase items that give a head start. If chopping is problematic for your loved one but she doesn’t want to switch to all canned or frozen vegetables, consider purchasing prechopped fresh veggies like carrots, celery, or potatoes. She can also purchase diced chicken instead of whole chicken breasts if she wants to use it in a recipe instead of serving it whole.
- Wear a splint or some type of support when preparing meals. This can prevent your loved one from hurting the affected areas and dealing with excessive pain after preparing a meal.
Ask for Advice from a Trained Arthritis Care Provider
Having someone come to your loved one’s home, talk to her about what she likes to do in the kitchen, and help her find solutions is a great way to honor her. An arthritis care professional may offer suggestions of food products that are easier to prepare as well as tips on how to prepare them. An arthritis care provider will also have great advice on what foods provide the best nutrients for managing arthritis.
