People who do not have to live with a disability or are otherwise not accessibility challenged, do not think much about how easy it is to lift a fork or spoon to their mouth to eat a bite of food. Let alone, cutting or preparing their food. Many people with disabilities or other physical challenges due to age find eating a challenging task to accomplish using traditional silverware. Over the past decade, however, industry has responded in order to help the disabled better enjoy their meals by providing handicap eating utensils to help those with diminished grip strength better enjoy their meals.
What Are Easy Grip Utensils?
The term easy grip utensils refers to silverware and kitchen accessories that have handles modified to make it easier for someone to hold or have the utensil strapped to their hand or arm. They are designed to allow the person who has trouble gripping standard kitchen utensils by letting them be self-sufficient when handling the device. If purchased individually, these utensils can cost upwards of $9 USD, however, when purchased as a set will cost less money per item. The majority of easy grip devices are maintenance free now-a-days, and help bring a renewed sense of independence for the loved one who has been living without that is grip challenged.
Adaptive Cooking Equipment and Gear
Another task that the handicap sometimes face in the kitchen is how to cut food without suffering through the frustration of not being able to grip the knife and cutting board. There are now one handed cutting boards available as a handicap cooking aid which can be clamped onto a kitchen counter top. There are also models that have added design features to prevent food from slipping off of the cutting board as well as ones with pins that will clamp onto food to keep it from moving while cutting. One-handed cutting boards cost a little more than traditional boards at $40-80 USD, however, they are just one more tool that will help your loved one feel more independent in the home if physically challenged.
Other adaptive cooking and eating aids that are available on the market to help make the kitchen more handicap accessible include:
- Plates and bowls with food bumpers. These are designed to keep food from falling off of the plate and have a suction cup on the base of the plate or bowl in order to keep it affixed to the table or counter space while using to eat a meal.
- A reacher to help pick up items that may be too far to reach or comfortably grasp.
- One-handed dish washing scrubber that stabilizes a pan or plate for washing.
- Cooking mirrors to let you look into a pot without having to bend over the stove.
- Roller knives to aid in cutting food.
- Adult bibs and clothing protectors to help save clean up time after eating. They really go a long way to helping your loved one maintain their dignity while eating since no one likes to make a mess of themselves…especially if their disability precludes them from eating in a normal, non-messy fashion.
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