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Adaptive cups, dinner flatware, and other eating aids designed to allow people with a variety of medical conditions to eat more easily help improve independence and allow for a greater sense of personal freedom. Arthritis, Parkinson’s, and physical disabilities of many kinds have long prevented people from gripping dining utensils properly, causing feelings of embarrassment and creating a need for assistance at mealtimes. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the best eating aids available.
Two-Handled Drinking Mugs
Two-handled drinking mugs with secure sipper tops much like those designed for small children can help people of all ages to enjoy their favorite beverages without risking embarrassing spills that can stain clothing and damage bedding. These mugs are made of clear, durable plastic so users can see what’s inside, and they are dishwasher safe. Perfect for anyone who experiences weakness, and ideal for people who must take their meals in bed, these cups allow people with special needs to drink in a dignified manner.
Flexible Fork
Until you’ve experienced limited mobility, it can be difficult to understand just how physically challenging it can be to use standard dining utensils. The Sammons Preston Flexible fork has a bendable fourteen-inch long one-inch diameter handle with a ten inch Velcro strap that can be used to secure the utensil in the diner’s hand. The foam handle can be wrapped around the user’s wrist for enhanced control, and the wide handle makes gripping less of a challenge. This innovative eating utensil is dishwasher safe and weighs in at just four ounces.
Suction Cup Plates
Eating on an unsteady surface can be a huge challenge, and some people with disabilities that cause trembling and involuntary movement have difficulty keeping dishes steady while they dine. Suction cup plates stay firmly in place, thanks to attached suction cups arranged in a triangular pattern. Be sure to pick up some extra suction cups to use with your plates, as these moving parts do wear out over time.
Scoop Dishes
Scoop dishes like the Sammons Preston Melamine scoop dish have sloped walls that help to keep food safely contained and prevent messy spills. These durable dishes are made from heavy-duty melamine, and they have non-skid feet on their bases, which help to prevent the dishes from sliding. They are available in a number of popular colors to match existing tableware, and they are ideal for serving dishes such as pasta, stir fry, and other foods that tend to slip and slide on the plate. The front scoop design helps ensure diners have easy access to their food, while the higher back and side walls help make eating easier.
Easy Hold Offset Sporks
The spork is a great invention any way you look at it, and the Sammons Preston Easy-Hold Offset Spork is even better. It is designed to be easily held and used by people with limited mobility and disabilities, and is available in either right or left hand models to accommodate each individual. These sporks allow users to enjoy many types of foods, and they have soft, latex-free covers to prevent painful accidents. They are ideal for anyone with upper extremity weakness or a reduced range of motion, and they are easier to grasp than standard utensils.
These sporks are dishwasher safe, so they can be washed with other family dishes.
Whether a disability is short-term, or if a person has long-term special needs, the ability to simply eat and drink comfortably can make a huge difference in the quality of the individual’s life. Choosing utensils and other items to help facilitate self-feeding is a wonderful way to help promote an important sense of independence.
About The Author:
Jeff Breeden offers the latest information and resources in commercial cooking and restaurant service at CooksDirect.com. For more information on commercial convection ovens, eating aids and more, visit CooksDirect.com.
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