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Food & Recipes

8 Adaptive Utensils That Will Make Eating Easier

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Taking time out to sit down and eat a nutritious meal is incredibly important, but for those with dexterity issues, it can also be incredibly frustrating. Between arthritis — the catchall term for joint pain or disease — and musculoskeletal problems, many older Americans struggle with hand pain and disability. In fact, a 2007 study in Rheumatology found that these issues were common for US residents aged 50 and over, and had a significant impact on their everyday life — particularly for women. What’s more, severe hand-related disability was prevalent is 12.3 percent of more than 2,000 study participants. This is where the best adaptive utensils come in. Created especially for those who struggle to use their hands to use around the dinner table, these kitchen tools can be life-changing.

What are adaptive utensils? 

Crafted to help make eating more enjoyable and less of a task, adaptive eating utensils consist of  silverware and kitchen tools that cater to those with physical or developmental disabilities, such as  Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), strokes, tremors, hand deformities, poor fine motor skills, weak grip, and arthritis — just to name a few. Some feature more ergonomic designs, while others allow users to go completely hands-free. 

These utensils do much more than simply ensure that hand pain sufferers receive proper nourishment, however. By giving them the freedom and independence to feed themselves, these tools ultimately provide a much-needed boost of confidence, reminding users that all bodies are able bodies. 

Best Adaptive Eating Utensils for Adults

Best Adaptive Utensils for Adults

From a rocking knife that doesn’t require precise holding ($18.99, Amazon) to a hand-free can opener that can be get your cans open with one touch of a button ($24.60, Amazon), we’ve got all the tools you’ll need to enjoy any meal without incident. If you’re ready to make your life — and that of your loved ones — easier, keep scrolling for Woman World’s picks for the best adaptive utensils for adults. 

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