Dining aids are an important part of enabling individuals with motor disabilities to have a safe and comfortable dining experience. Coupled with technologically advanced features, these aids are made of high quality materials and are hygienically designed to make sure you’re in safe hands each and every time.
Adaptive Feeding Utensils
With features such as strong grips, adaptive designs, and an ergonomic build,
adaptive feeding utensils are an ideal option for daily use dining aids. These adaptive eating utensils consist of a number of different types of utensils which include:
Adaptive Curved Utensils
Curved at a specific angle, these utensils allow easy insertion of food in the mouth. Made of sturdy stainless steel, the angle of bend in them is clinically designed to aid people who face difficulties in putting food in their mouth.
Adaptive Bendable Utensils
Made of flexible & bendable materials, these
adaptive bendable utensils are recommended for people who would like to bend the utensil at a desired angle. An individual can use these utensils at any angle and hence are a better choice if the user has the ability to choose the angle for themselves.
Adaptive Grip Utensils
These
adaptive grip utensils are designed for people who have gripping difficulties which arise due to motor disabilities or neurological disorders. They come in options such as built up handles, ergonomic handles, steady grip handles, swivel handles, etc.
Adaptive Weighted Utensils
With excess weight added to the handles of these
weighted utensils, they are apt for people who suffer from tremors. Tremors can cause an object in the hand to fall, but the weight in these utensils reduces the intensity of these tremors. They are also helpful for people with weak grips, or injured hands.
Other Adaptive Utensils
There are many more adaptive utensils which include extended utensils, foam padding utensils, easy hold utensils, flexible utensils, thin handle utensils, angled utensils, etc.
Adaptive Bowls and Dishes
Managing bowls and dishes can be very difficult while suffering from motor disabilities as they are not steady based and hence can easily fall or spill food. Made of lightweight and durable materials,
adaptive bowls and dishes are made to ease one’s dining experience. They come in multiple options with added features to increase the efficiency of these aids.
- Scoop dishes – Available in single or partitioned options, these dishes have high walls on all sides with a small wall on one. This aids the fork or spoon in pushing the food into the utensils easily.
- Weighted bowls – Increased weight of these bowl increases the stability of these bowl thus enabling the user to eat without having to fear of the bowl falling.
- Other adaptive bowls and dishes include plates with inside edges, bowls with suction cups, high sided divided dish, and much more that allow for easy dining.
Other Important Adaptive Dining Aids
There are a number of different dining aids that are designed to aid in easy cooking and cutting of food. Some dining aids help in protecting the user as well.
- Adaptive Knives – These knives are designed with additional features that enable easy, ergonomic and comfortable cutting of cooked as well as raw foods. Adaptive knives include, rocker T knives, angled knives, lightweight knives, helper knives, etc.
- Cut resistant gloves protect the user from accidental injuries. Tremors or weak hold can cause the knife to slip suddenly and can cause injuries. These gloves prevent such mishaps.
- Bibs and Protectors are mostly used by the elderly. They prevent accidental spills from soiling the user’s clothes. Made from water resistant materials, the spilled food simply rolls off the bib rather than being absorbed by it.
- Food guards and bumpers are attached to dishes and plates and help prevent the food from falling out of the plate. They are easy to use and can be simply attached to the rim of the dishes or plates.
Why would one need Adaptive Dining Aids?
There are several reasons one might feel the need to use dining aids which include:
Adaptive Dining Aids for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis can cause weakening of the joints of one’s hands thus resulting in a weaker grip as well as instability while holding objects. Dining aids can help rid this issue by providing stability to the user while eating food.
Adaptive Utensils for Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s diseases might cause weak grip and weakening of the muscles of the hand & arm. Adaptive utensils can cope with this inability to hold things properly by adding weight as well as modifying the utensil for easy eating.
Other major conditions include:
- Dementia
- Tremors
- Stroke
- Reduced fine- motor skills
Where to Buy Dining Aids Online?
At HPFY we offer a wide range of quality dining aids from Patterson Medical that can help making dining a safe, easy, and comfortable experience. Made of high quality materials these utensils are easy to use, easy to store, and can be used under all home applications.
Other Useful Links:
Assistive Devices
Adaptive Utensils and Eating Aids