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People with advanced rheumatoid arthritis often experience upper body joint deformities that make it difficult for them to complete basic daily life tasks. Eating is one of these basic tasks that can be affected by arthritic deformities of the upper body. If you are one of these people, meals may already be a frustrating time of day for you. Here are some helpful tips to increase your independence during meals.

First, move your arms and hands and evaluate what movements you can use. You may no longer be able to wrap your fingers around the handle of a spoon, but you may be able to pinch it between your thumb and the side of your hand. Can you move your shoulder? Can you bend the elbow? Can you rotate your forearm so that your palm faces the ceiling? Move each joint and see what kind of movement it does or does not have. This will help you determine how you should adapt your space during meals.

Then eat a meal and pay attention to what the main problems are while eating. Decide if the problem that really bothers you is easy to fix. Maybe the whole problem is that the food is sliding off your plate and you can’t stop it. You may not be able to cut meat. You may be able to put the food on your spoon or fork, but you can’t turn your wrist enough to put it in your mouth without spilling it. These are just examples of problems that can occur. You can have these or others, or combinations. Try to determine what is causing the problem and how easy it is to fix it. It may be a good idea to have someone else help you with this, as another set of eyes may see a problem with a plate, glass, or utensil that you don’t notice.

After evaluating the situation, you are ready to decide what adaptations you might need during meals. Some adaptations are straightforward and some are specialized. Here are some examples of simple problems and adaptations to correct them:

Problem: Your plate slides on the table and you cannot stop it.

Solution: Place a damp cloth underneath or purchase a non-slip shelf liner at your local discount store and place a piece of it under your plate.

Problem: You cannot tilt your drinking glass or mug.

Solution: Use a short straw to drink liquids.

Problem: You can hold onto your silverware, but it just doesn’t feel secure or you drop it sometimes.

Solution: Buy picnic items with plastic handles or similar cutlery that have slightly larger handles. These utensils are easier to grip than traditional flatware, but they are not specialized and are available at your local discount store.

If your eating problems are more complicated than this, you may need adapted utensils or plates. Thanks to the Internet, they are also available. There are many different types of adapted utensils and the selection can be confusing at times. Here are some examples of problems and solutions involving adapted dishes and utensils:

Problem: You cannot close your fingers around the small handled utensils.

Solution: Buy adapted utensils with large handles or buy foam tubes to place around the handles of the utensils you have. Foam tubes are less expensive, but they wear out faster. Large-handled utensils cost more, but are more hygienic and last longer.

Problem: you can’t cut your meat.

Solution: Buy a rocker knife. This type of knife is specially designed to allow you to use a rocking motion to cut, rather than the traditional sawing motion.

Problem: Your food slides off your plate and you can’t stop it.

Solution: Buy a plate guard or a plate with a rim. Both elements are designed to prevent food from slipping on or off the plate.

Problem: You have a large ulnar deviation and can’t hold onto anything.

Solution: buy a universal bracelet. This is a simple elastic band that slides over the palm of your hand. The band has a pocket that will hold the handle of a spoon or fork, allowing you to hold the utensil yourself.

There are many more examples of adaptable utensils available. The adaptable dishes and utensils are designed to overcome almost any obstacle when it comes to eating. Many of these devices are available online at Arthritis Supplies, so visit their website at http://www.arthritissupplies.com to explore their selection of customizable utensils and plates.

If determining what adaptations you need to eat is too overwhelming for you, an occupational therapist can help you decide. You don’t need to see an occupational therapist for months to do this. Two or three sessions to evaluate your eating and determine which adaptive devices will work for you should be sufficient. Check your insurance plan to see if occupational therapy is covered and where an occupational therapist is located in your area. For more information on occupational therapy, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association at http://www.aota.org/Consumers.aspx

Eating doesn’t have to be a frustrating and humiliating experience. Adapting your utensils and dishes can help you regain your independence and dignity during meals, so take a look at your meal schedule and take control today.