Living with arthritis to any degree isn’t easy, and carrying out tasks that were once simple can be painful. However, there are ways that it can be managed, and it’s essential that care establishments encourage all residents to manage their condition as best as they can, with the support of carers if needed. This should help provide residents with a better quality of life, and also help avoid encountering further complications.

One beneficial way a care home can support a resident to maintain their independence is by providing some practical tools and gadgets to help make everyday activities easier. Little tasks can be a challenge, but they can be made simpler by the introduction of some effective tools. For example, adding levers to taps can make them easier to turn, supplying residents with a long reach grabber may help them to pick up items that may have fallen onto the floor, and providing them with cutlery that has extra grip on and can be held in several positions might make mealtimes more comfortable. Other things that people suffering from arthritis are likely to benefit from include installing hand rails throughout the home and fixing grips to doorknobs and handles to make them easier to twist/open.

Providing healthy meals to all residents, but particularly those with arthritis, should be a focus of every care home. Maintaining a healthy weight will help to avoid any unnecessary weight or stress on the joints, easing the pain and reducing the chance of further damage developing.

Regular exercise can also be beneficial to residents as it can help to reduce pain and improve joint mobility. However, it’s crucial that the residents only carry out valuable exercises and ones they enjoy, as depending on the severity and location of their condition, certain movements may be too painful. The type of movements and exercises that the resident might be encouraged to perform should be included in their comprehensive care plan.

It’s possible that arthritis can get worse, even if they have followed their person-centred care plan. In this scenario, it’s essential that the resident has access to all relevant resources to further help them manage it. Care homes must be prepared to organise visits of specialist health professionals if required, so that the wellbeing of the resident is never compromised.