Who's become gripless as they've gotten older?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
I'm having more and more trouble with those containers with peel-back lids as one example. Opening jars is becoming more of a challenge too. Other stuff, can't think right now.

I don't have pain in my hands, very little arthritis, it doesn't hurt or anything. Is it a strength thing?
 

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Ronni said:
...trouble with those containers with peel-back lids as one example. Opening jars is becoming more of a challenge too. ... Is it a strength thing?
Click to expand...

I always wondered how my mom would have gotten by if my daughter and I weren't around to open jars for her. She had a nice battery opener that worked for lots of jars.
But those peel-back lids are awful, one of the types of cat food my cat likes has those and it takes me a lot of effort to open. Probably in the future I'll have to use a sharp opener, I wonder if they make a gadget already, I'll have to search Amazon.
 
Yep, I have arthritis in my right hand caused by age coupled with an old injury to my thumb and first two fingers. My grip is not good, and I have to be really careful when picking things up. When I was 18 I had a compression injury to my neck. My left arm and hand was partially paralyzed. I was in traction in the hospital for a week, before I got most of my feeling back in my left arm and hand. Now, in old age that hand and arm is a bit numb, and the grip is a bit weak. So, I have to be careful all the time....getting old sucks! My Dad used to say to me that he would have taken better care of himself if he had known how old he would live.....

Me too....
 
HoneyNut said:
I always wondered how my mom would have gotten by if my daughter and I weren't around to open jars for her. She had a nice battery opener that worked for lots of jars.
But those peel-back lids are awful, one of the types of cat food my cat likes has those and it takes me a lot of effort to open. Probably in the future I'll have to use a sharp opener, I wonder if they make a gadget already, I'll have to search Amazon.
Click to expand...
I have a pair of scissors in the kitchen and use the tip to push under and lift the ring, then just crowbar it open.
 
I've never had much strength in my hands, but I used to have a husband! There have been occasions when I have asked the postman to open a jar for me. Those ring top tins are lethal...it was a good idea in theory but I wonder how many fingers have been sliced by them? To open jars, I up-end them and place them in boiling water. That usually loosens them.
 
I don't have any gadgets to use for opening a scew-on lid,
but one or all of the following below work like a charm:

1. Tap the edge of the lid on the counter
2. Run hot water over the edges of the lid and under
3. Wet a paper towel, lay that over the lid and twist.
4. Try a dry paper towel
5. Repeat

These are effective. I never have a problem. So far.
`
 
I'm realizing that the problem seems to reside more in my fingers than my whole hand. Peeling the top off the specialty dog food doesn't require hand strength, just finger strength. I also tried to use my fingers to grip the cardboard box flap that was glued, so I could pull it open and flatten the box for recycling. It took me a few tries to actually get it to move!

I also have a rubber gripper thing to help me open jars. Two of them actually...I use one to grip the lid, and the other to grip the jar itself, because both slide around under my hand.
 
I have started exercising my hands to try to get my strength back. I cannot open things but now have an opener that works great. And speaking of dropping things.........I drop things all the time. Sometimes I start out counting how many times I dropped something but lost count before the day is over. Relieved to know it is not just me!
 
Ronni said:
I'm having more and more trouble with those containers with peel-back lids as one example. Opening jars is becoming more of a challenge too. Other stuff, can't think right now.

I don't have pain in my hands, very little arthritis, it doesn't hurt or anything. Is it a strength thing?
Click to expand...
I have OA in my right hand my first 2 fingers, and it's almost impossible for me now to peel back any kind of plastic packaging..like a bacon package or the inner lid of milk bottle or pill bottle...

For a twist cap like a bleach cap, I use rubber gloves to try and grip better, it usually works well.. however the push down and turn bottles are more of a challenge . Hubs used to open them.. but now I don't have that option
 
oldaunt said:
I have a pair of scissors in the kitchen and use the tip to push under and lift the ring, then just crowbar it open.
Click to expand...
I lift up the ring with the point of a knife, then slide the handle of a spoon through the hole and pull it back.

I use the same technique on drinks cartons which have first a twist top then a plastic ring pull beneath...


top-of-drink-carton-with-plastic-screw-top-lid-and-ring-pull-picture-id1158419720
 
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Ronni said:
I'm realizing that the problem seems to reside more in my fingers than my whole hand. Peeling the top off the specialty dog food doesn't require hand strength, just finger strength. I also tried to use my fingers to grip the cardboard box flap that was glued...
Click to expand...
Try putting a damp paper towel between your fingers and the peel-back lid.

If that doesn't work just forget about trying to peel it off (yes some paper lids are glued on with cement...WTH??).

If that's the case, I get a sharp knife (I use a clean Exacto Knife) and just run it along the edge, discard, then replace the lid with saran-wrap or aluminum foil.
 

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