Senior cutlery is specially designed cutlery with large handles, which can be easily and safely held in the hand even with limited movement. It is also called cutlery for people with mobility impairment. The development of this cutlery is not too old and follows the trend of providing this group of people with easy-to-use items to enable them to go about their daily lives independently.
What is senior cutlery?
The handles of the cutlery are designed to be much thicker and rounder. As a result, they fit the natural, only slightly angled shape of the human hand and are oriented toward minimal mobility. Cutlery for seniors or cutlery for people with limited mobility is cutlery that is specially adapted to the remaining mobility of the hands and fingers. Some conditions, such as gout, rheumatism or Parkinson’s disease, make it difficult to use everyday objects such as cutlery as [[aging|age and progression. Because cutlery in particular is thin in design, seniors and people with limited mobility can no longer hold it independently. They thus lose the ability to eat independently and are dependent on constant help with this elementary activity. Senior cutlery has thicker handles, which means that it can be held and used even by people whose hands and fingers are barely mobile. The thickness of the handles can be adjusted to the condition of the hands. For seniors who have merely found normal cutlery too cumbersome, there is relatively ordinary-looking senior cutlery. For advanced difficulties, on the other hand, there are senior cutlery with very thick, round handles that require hardly any movement of the hands.
Shapes, types and types
Senior cutlery differs in design from cutlery for people with mobility impairments. Seniors can often still grasp everyday objects relatively independently and hold them firmly enough to use them. That’s why the handles of the cutlery are just made a little thicker and rounder than ordinary cutlery. Many designs even fit into any household without standing out. Cutlery for people with limited mobility, on the other hand, is oriented to a condition that makes it difficult to grasp small, delicate objects. The handles of the cutlery are designed to be much thicker and rounder. They thus fit the natural, only slightly angled shape of the human hand and are oriented to minimal mobility. Even if the underlying disease worsens over the course of a lifetime, becomes worse in episodes, or the affected patient is virtually unable to grasp anything at all, this leaves him or her with the ability to eat independently and without assistance.
Structure and mode of operation
Cutlery for people with mobility impairment and senior cutlery does not differ in its structure and operation from normal cutlery with which the affected person has lived all his life. There are forks, knives, spoons and sometimes even more specialized cutlery such as fish knives in different sizes. The difference starts with the handle, which is more or less larger, thicker and rounder in design. If the person concerned wants to stay with their previous cutlery, there is also the option of fitting the handles with special cushions that make them easier to grip in their shape. This has the advantage that a complete new set of cutlery does not have to be purchased and that more special cutlery can be kept – it is only slightly modified. Cutlery for people with mobility impairments and senior cutlery is usually dishwasher safe and can be purchased in a variety of designs. Because of the shape of the handles, it can be picked up easily and held firmly enough in the hand to cut food with it and eat it independently. Handles to attach to your own ordinary cutlery are simply removed after use and the cutlery can be cared for as usual. This allows it to continue to be used by all family members without any problems.
Medical and health benefits
Cutlery for people with limited mobility and senior cutlery are among the everyday aids that may not be prescribed, but may be recommended by the attending physician as people age or the severity of the underlying condition increases. The cutlery is often recommended for diseases such as gout, rheumatism, Parkinson’s disease or after severe injuries to the hands involving the nerves.These and other diseases can impair the ability to grip the hands and the mobility of the finger joints to such an extent that normal movement of the hands is no longer possible. This can restrict everyday life to such an extent that the person affected is no longer able to eat independently due to the thin shape of normal cutlery. The cutlery is thus intended to facilitate independent living, since older people in particular often live alone. Senior cutlery is often not designed significantly differently from conventional cutlery and is intended to provide relief for minor movement restrictions. Seniors often develop limitations in the healthy mobility of their hands even without disease: this is age-related, as vital forces decline. Adapted cutlery makes everyday life easier for them and can ensure that they no longer feel pain in their hands due to knives and forks that are too small, or that everyday meals become too strenuous for them. Since senior cutlery looks little different, many elderly people like to resort to it to avoid unnecessary strain on their hands and to cope with everyday life with less effort.
