Grocery Shopping: It's in the Bag
Adapted from Arthritis Today®*, the health magazine published by the Arthritis Foundation.
For most people, weekly trips to the grocery store are just another chore. But if you have arthritis, shopping can be a pain - literally. To make getting groceries a little easier, try the following:
- Use the buddy system. Coordinate your grocery trips with a neighbor or family member. That way, extra help will be right by your side.
- Ask for help. Don't be shy about asking for help from clerks, other shoppers or even children shopping with their moms (but ask Mom first, of course). Kids love to get on their hands and knees and will get a self-esteem boost from being helpful.
- Extend your reach. A reacher purchased from a medical supply store (there are many sources online) can help you get those up-high items when human help is not close by.
- Stick with a list. If possible, shop in a familiar store and visualize its layout when preparing your grocery list. List items in order, beginning where you will enter the store. That way, you'll waste less energy retracing steps to get something in the aisle you just left.
- Accept support. Wear supportive shoes. Use the grocery cart to steady yourself as you walk, or use a motorized shopping cart if you need to. Most stores have carts available for customers, but call first to make sure.
- Choose paper. Although plastic bags seem like a great idea, they can be hard on tender hand and wrist joints. Holding a large paper bag close to your body by using your full arms actually may be easier.
- Let someone else do the shopping. For a small fee, many local grocers and some larger chains provide grocery delivery service with same-day or next-day delivery - you provide the list and wait!