A Helping Hand This Holiday for Stroke Survivors

Stroke is the primary cause of long-term disability in the United States. More than 1.1 million American adults reported difficulty with functional limitations, activities of daily living, etc., resulting from stroke. Chances are you know of someone who has suffered a stroke and has limited use of their hands. In the case of a right handed person who is now right hand impaired, seemingly simple daily tasks have become highly demanding.

If someone on your Christmas shopping list has suffered a stroke and struggles with an ineffective hand, consider giving a gift that eases the difficulties.

One particular area of stress occurs at the dining table. Products are available in a wide range of prices but any relief provided would be priceless to the recipient.

Rocker Knife (as low as $$6.95)
Think of the multiple ways in which a knife is used while eating. Then imagine what you might have to stop eating if you were left alone to feed yourself with one hand. A rocker knife is designed for one-handed use and makes cutting food much easier. The curved blade makes it easy to cut food with a slight rocking motion.

In the dining utensil category, economy rocker knives are offered by CareGiver Products for $6.95. Dynamic Living offers a stainless rocker knife for $10.99. For just under $19, 1st Ergo offers a solid handled rocker knife with long stainless steel blade.

The Ulu® rocker knife performs most culinary chores with ease and efficiency - from chopping nuts to slicing cheese and meats. One aspect of this knife that sets it apart from other rocker knives is that it can easily be sharpened, giving it much longer usability. This outstanding knife is available at Dynamic Living for a mere $17.99.

Non-Slip Placemats (as low as $0.99 each)
Chasing food around a plate that wants to keep moving around the slick table surface is exasperating. Single-handed dining can quickly become as frustrating as hunting while blind folded. A non-slip placemat grips on both sides of its surface and helps keep plates and bowls from sliding. This gift is guaranteed to reduce frustration for less than one dollar!

Camping World currently advertises washable non-slip placemats in a variety of colors for 99 cents! Independent Living offers a Dycem non-slip placemat for $11.95.

Knork® Flatware
The Knork® is a rocker knife and fork combination that can cut through pizza, chicken, pork chops and even steak with only one hand. This one-handed design provides highly effective cutting by simply 'rocking' the Knork® through your food.

Dynamic Living offers the 5 piece flatware set for $24.99. Constructed of 100% forged stainless steel, the Knork® 5 Piece flatware set blends in with other silverware. The set includes a full size and a salad size Knork®.

Knork® flatware in plastic begin as low as $4.99 for a 24 pack with premium plastic pieces at $9.99 for four packs of four at New Kitchen Gadget online. They also offer individual pieces of stainless Knork® for $9.99 with a 20 piece set of Knork® Flatware with Duo Finish for $92.99.

Dinnerware (as low as $5.95)
Multiple solutions exist for serving pieces that ease the frustration for the single-handed diner.

At Arthritis Supplies online, $5.95 buys a plastic plate with a deep inner lip to keep food from sliding off. Youcan Toocan offers a wide range of dinnerware including divided plates as low as $6.95 and scoop plates for $13.95. Scooper bowls with suction cups for stability cost as little as $9.95.

Plate Guards (as low as $2.39)
Single-handed diners who prefer using their own dinnerware for esthetic reasons may become silently frustrated with the lack of control over their food. Plate guards can solve this problem. Plate guards fit at the edge of the plate and create walls against which food can be pushed onto a spoon or fork.

For $12.95 the Wright Stuff suggests a Sure Fit plate guard made of clear polycarbonate plastic which they claim is Ideal for use at home and at restaurants due to its inconspicuous design and tapered ends. It attaches by sliding the grooved edge onto the plate, forming a gapless fit. Colonial Medical offers a plastic plate guard for as low as $2.39 while Allegro Medical offers the AliMed plastic small plate guard for $15

The value of independence and self-control provided by healthcare or assisted living products cannot be understated. A thorough search of healthcare product providers may supply you with more ideas than a lifetime of Christmases can handle.