Daily living Aids

pcrilly03

Hey everyone, I hope you're all well. I'm Philip and I'm a pharmacist from Ireland but I work in London now. I have an aunt who has had arthritis since she gave birth when she was 29. She is now 55 and I have always admired how she has lived her life with such determination and strength of character. Just from reading your forum posts I really don't know how I would manage in a similar situation with all the challenges that arthritis presents.

I love to create and invent new things and was wondering if there is anything that you think would make a difference living with arthritis. The crazier or whackier the idea the better, I'm open to all suggestions. I may or may not be able to come up with something from your suggestions but it may stimulate some inspiration to develop a product or service that can support people with arthritis. I've read on your forum about the drab NHS crutches and the handles that make them a pain to use and also about the difficulties of cutting toe nails. Anything else please let me know.

Thanks for your time, Philip

valval

toes are to far away shampoo bottles that wont open i have it mild but have to plan these things ahead of time. do nails on good day handles to help balance getting in and out of shower a great help and yes lots of colour for splints ect val

pcrilly03

Hi Val
Thanks for that, do you use many aids in your home or do you manage ok without?

tillytop

Hey, how brilliant to have an inventor on the forum! I'm sure that, between us, we could come up with a huge list of ideas - so much so that you might wish you hadn't asked!!!! Look forward to seeing what people come up with!
Tilly

gickygawky

Haha!

You may have opened a can of worms with your request!

I can think of a load of random silly little things I would like a 'thing' for....

I dream of finding an easier way of...

Painting toes nails
Putting on socks
Putting on shoes
Holding hair dryer
Looking over my shoulder
Getting out of chair with grace and dignity!
Opening the boot of my car

I would also like a gadget to remind me to keep a good posture - something that will catch me out when I slouch and zap me back into sitting/standing tall.

Something to automatically adjust my centre of gravity so I don't teeter into god knows what!

I am sure others will be along shortly with some more ideas.

Arna x

pcrilly03

These are all great, thanks a million, please keep them coming Maybe we can put a list together and people can vote on the idea that would be of most value to them
Philip

frogmorton

Hi phillip

you can 'get' snazzy walking sticks etc but the are overpriced.....#

would be good if things could be pimped and then repimped again

Love

Toni xx

pcrilly03

frogmorton wrote:

Hi phillip

you can 'get' snazzy walking sticks etc but the are overpriced.....#

would be good if things could be pimped and then repimped again

Love

Toni xx

Hi Toni,
Like some sort of sleeve? Do you know the way mobile phones have sleeves and covers, would that concept work for walking sticks etc?

wibberley

I would love something to help me lift open our garage door.

I always forget that I can no longer do it and have to quickly duck out of the way before it comes crashing back down on my head!

Lovely to have an inventor on the forum - welcome!

Lois x

tanith

I second some sort of 'stand' for a hair dryer as I can only hold it for few minutes before my wrist, shoulder, fingers start to complian.. trouble is I don't really have anywhere to stand the hairdryer as I dry my hair in front of the mirror in the bathroom... I end up with a curly mop most days as its just too hard to straighten my very wayward curls..

pcrilly03

wibberley wrote:

I would love something to help me lift open our garage door.

I always forget that I can no longer do it and have to quickly duck out of the way before it comes crashing back down on my head!

Lovely to have an inventor on the forum - welcome!

Lois x

Hi Lois
I wonder would an automatic garage door solve that? I think they might be quite expensive though. I'll have a think. Thanks

pcrilly03

tanith wrote:

I second some sort of 'stand' for a hair dryer as I can only hold it for few minutes before my wrist, shoulder, fingers start to complian.. trouble is I don't really have anywhere to stand the hairdryer as I dry my hair in front of the mirror in the bathroom... I end up with a curly mop most days as its just too hard to straighten my very wayward curls..

Hi Tanith

In the hairdressers they have a dryer that sits over your head while the dye sets, would something similar work for you? It would need to be a device or something that can go around your head or has the ability too. Thanks for that.

elnafinn

Hi Lois

You can have an automatic opening garage door, like my mum has, an up and over one. Hubby sorted it for her. It cost a bit, (labour free ) but well worth it, she has her magic zapper and it is easy peasy!!

Luv
Elna x

gickygawky

pcrilly03 wrote:

tanith wrote:

I second some sort of 'stand' for a hair dryer as I can only hold it for few minutes before my wrist, shoulder, fingers start to complian.. trouble is I don't really have anywhere to stand the hairdryer as I dry my hair in front of the mirror in the bathroom... I end up with a curly mop most days as its just too hard to straighten my very wayward curls..

Hi Tanith

In the hairdressers they have a dryer that sits over your head while the dye sets, would something similar work for you? It would need to be a device or something that can go around your head or has the ability too. Thanks for that.

They do have something like that don't they. I think a slim stand that could be set to an individuals head height and hold onto the hairdryer at the top would be good as you could still style your hair with a brush or move your head in the direction you want your hair to go.
Back in Oz I have been known to stick my head in front of a fan but because it is so strong the hair style can be pretty hit or miss! Plus it's just too cold to do that in the UK, Brr!

A x

pcrilly03

Maybe something that holds the hair dryer but can be manoeuvred around the head freeing the hands to style the hair if needed.

dreamdaisy

Love the idea of sleeves for sticks etc but then the tricky problem of how to get them on and off rears its ugly head - personal slave, I guess. Neoprene would be good stuff, and the colours! Oh, think of the colours! Us girlies want pretty sparkly things and the boys could have camouflage or skulls or footballs. (I so want to call you Father Ted - would that be so dreadful?)

This is a very thought-provoking area, pcrilly, and despite what you may think from the tone of my post, I have been thinking quite seriously. My PA is steadily worsening - month by month I find things more difficult if not impossible. So far, so good. I knew this was going to happen so have invested in fat-handled flatware and cutlery, lighter saucepans etc but I think the answer for me is a very personable young man, dressed in not very much, at my beck-and-call. A number of large birds killed with one stone - and I include me in the large bird bit! If I have any sensible ideas I will post.

Well, whaddya know? Just thought of one. Crutches with built-in shock absorbers (similar to some walking poles) would be a step (ha-ha) in the right direction. My arms ands shoulders bear the brunt of hard surfaces when stumbling/waddling/tottering along. Dreamdaisy

lindalegs

I put my hairdryer in a large vase and stand it on my table, then I sit down and move my head in the air flow using my comb-on-a-bent-stick to style it.

You can also buy proper hair dryer holders/stands http://www.amazon.com/Jobar-Hair-Dryer-Stand/dp/B0002VQ0WO like this ...although my vase works on the same principle.

Luv Legs

gickygawky

lindalegs wrote:

I put my hairdryer in a large vase and stand it on my table, then I sit down and move my head in the air flow using my comb-on-a-bent-stick to style it.

You can also buy proper hair dryer holders/stands http://www.amazon.com/Jobar-Hair-Dryer-Stand/dp/B0002VQ0WO like this ...although my vase works on the same principle.

Luv Legs

Linda you are a very cool person for finding this! 8)
I am now off to buy one as I don't have a vase big enough!!
As for your vase, well, they say necessity is the mother of invention don't they!!

A x

tanith

pcrilly03 wrote:

Maybe something that holds the hair dryer but can be manoeuvred around the head freeing the hands to style the hair if needed.

Thats sounds perfect.. and if I were a bit more minted I'd just go to the hairdresser twice a week...lol

ironic

I bought a new electric toothbrush. Could not get into the packaging. Could not get the end off to insert the batteries. Could not get the old brush out of the top to replace it.

Cat food!! cannot pull the everso little foil tab to open those square trays. She will only eat that type or the tare off the top type.

Plastic milk bottles have the same daft foil design.

Oh sorry I'm on a rant here. :roll:

Ix

dreamdaisy

What about a rechargeable toothbrush ironic? Saves the whole battery palaver. Regarding the foil on milk, ketchup etc, I just slice it open with a knife, then peel back and off. Makes life less painful, although the peeling can hurt sometimes. DD

hileena111

gickygawky wrote:

Haha!


I dream of finding an easier way of...

Painting toes nails
Putting on socks
Putting on shoes


I would also like a gadget to remind me to keep a good posture - something that will catch me out when I slouch and zap me back into sitting/standing tall.

Something to automatically adjust my centre of gravity so I don't teeter into god knows what!

I am sure others will be along shortly with some more ideas.

Arna x

What a fantastic thing to have an inventor on the site....at the moment I totally agree with the above...I'm sure more will come to mind LOL
Love
Hileena