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

[WheatenLover]

Sometimes my daughter has to open water bottles for me. I can't get the cover off openings in products, so I use a knife and cut the cover off. With jars that are vacuum sealed, I insert the tip of a teaspoon under the lid to release the pressure. I have a jar opener, but it doesn't help that much because my hands are too weak. I bought an electric can opener because I couldn't open cans otherwise -- now I am able to use a regular manual can opener again.

The pharmacist puts caps on my pill bottles that are reversible - one side is childproof and other is just a regular cap. This helps a lot because I still can't get childproof caps open - including those on cleaning products for which one has to squeeze the lid and turn it at the same time.

Luckily my daughter is usually around to help if I need it.

 

[Pappy]

We use this gadget for those ring top cans. Works beautiful. Arthritis in our hands makes it so hard do little things around the house.

 

[feywon]

Who's become gripless as they've gotten older? Yes, it is much harder to come to grips with old age.​

This humorous remark of yours reminds me: i read the title of this thread wrong at first. I thought it said 'gripeless'. I was thinking most of us gripe more as we age. But then reading Ronni's initial statement i realized my mistake.

 

[Jules]

can't get childproof caps open - including those on cleaning products for which one has to squeeze the lid and turn it at the same time.

I wish someone would invent a device to open these things; I’m sure it would sell out immediately. Once I get the bottle open, I just set the lid on top. Fortunately there are no little kids in the house.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Those pull back fasteners, especially if they are small are becoming harder and harder to open as I get older. I think it is the fine motor in the tips of my fingers or something. Definitely the strength of opening jars is also a problem for me.

I , too, have problems with those pull back fasteners. I don't know how I do it, but I break some of those tabs off. with the lid still on. The can opener won't work on that type of can. I get out a big knife and stab the lid to pry it off- nothing unsafe there.
BTW, I'm dyslexic. I thought this thread was about being gripeless. Who in the hell gets gripeless as they get older!!!!!

 

[Betty Boop]

I , too, have problems with those pull back fasteners. I don't know how I do it, but I break some of those tabs off. with the lid still on. The can opener won't work on that type of can. I get out a big knife and stab the lid to pry it off- nothing unsafe there.
BTW, I'm dyslexic. I thought this thread was about being gripeless. Who in the hell gets gripeless as they get older!!!!!

I also have an impossible time with those medicine that are in the blister packs that you have to pull the back off to get medicine.

 

[hollydolly]

I , too, have problems with those pull back fasteners. I don't know how I do it, but I break some of those tabs off. with the lid still on. The can opener won't work on that type of can. I get out a big knife and stab the lid to pry it off- nothing unsafe there.
BTW, I'm dyslexic. I thought this thread was about being gripeless. Who in the hell gets gripeless as they get older!!!!!

you're not the only one, I keep reading it as gripeless as well..and I'm not dyslexic

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I'm noticing that things sometimes slip out of my hands more easily. Is it because I'm not paying attention to what I'm doing or my grip is getting less strong? It does seem to be a little harder to open certain things these days. Sometimes I think manufactures have overdone it with the packaging though. However, I'm not denying my strength has declined a bit. For tough bottles and jars, usually running hot water over them works. But a few weeks ago, a pasta jar was so hard to open that even my son had problems with it.

@Betty Boop...I just puncture them with something sharp. I do the same for ammonia bottles. And...

 

[Della]

I cut a big gash in my thumb and had to get stitches just trying to pull off the lid of a tuna fish can that the can opener had only cut about 359 degrees. You know how it its.

I've found that the little things, like water bottles and nail polishes, open easily while using a nut cracker to grip the top.

For bigger things in the kitchen I use one of the grippers like shown above.

I still can't get the child proof pill bottle tops off without help.

 

[Just Jeff]

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?

It can be "a strength" thing. Sometimes I can't 'peel' open one of those lids or covers or even the zip-lock like packages, and I hand it to my son and he opens it right up with no problem at all.

 

[Oris Borloff]

I cut a big gash in my thumb and had to get stitches just trying to pull off the lid of a tuna fish can that the can opener had only cut about 359 degrees. You know how it its.

I've found that the little things, like water bottles and nail polishes, open easily while using a nut cracker to grip the top.

For bigger things in the kitchen I use one of the grippers like shown above.

I still can't get the child proof pill bottle tops off without help.

2 things that might help with child proof caps. If you have something like a non-slip shelf liner or gripper sheet turn the bottle upside down onto the no slip surface,pressing your palm on the bottom of the bottle as you rotate. Second, drive in a thumb tack through the top of the cap, it locks both sections together just like a regular bottle cap.

I've lost a lot of grip strength in my right (dominant) hand because of an injury a few years back.

 

[hollydolly]

It can be "a strength" thing. Sometimes I can't 'peel' open one of those lids or covers or even the zip-lock like packages, and I hand it to my son and he opens it right up with no problem at all.

I have arthritis in my right hand so trying to get a bottle top off is a challenge.. I use a rubber glove for grip and that usually does it..

In a store if I buy a bottle of juice to drink immediately, I check as I'm paying for it to see if I can get the top off, if I can't, I ask the checkout assistant who is usually younger..and stronger.. no-one has ever refused me

 

[Nathan]

My trouble is a minor loss of sensation, but what appears to be decline in grip strength, which is kind of hard for me to grasp, as I work out with weights several times a week.

I have trouble operating chop sticks...used to be a pro.

 

[RadishRose]

I cut a big gash in my thumb and had to get stitches just trying to pull off the lid of a tuna fish can that the can opener had only cut about 359 degrees. You know how it its.

I've found that the little things, like water bottles and nail polishes, open easily while using a nut cracker to grip the top.

For bigger things in the kitchen I use one of the grippers like shown above.

I still can't get the child proof pill bottle tops off without help.

@Della, SOME child proof pill bottle caps can be turned upside down and used like a screw cap. Not all. My CVS usually honors my request for non-child-proof bottles.

 

[Remy]

The strength in my hands isn't great. I'm not sure the cause. I find I don't even like chopping vegetables. Perhaps I need to look into a small food processor.

Also I've been considering an electric can opener.

 

[RadishRose]

My grip has diminished somewhat. I can open ring tab cans ok, but have trouble with other things. Plastic clam shell packaging for instance and certain jars.

 

[Pepper]

I have pain in my hands, particularly the right, and doc said it was from a disc in my neck!

 

[Paco Dennis]

A couple years ago I developed "trigger finger" on my first knuckle, on my right hand ring finger. It snaps back and forth. Sometimes it snaps when trying to pick something up or hold things. It still surprises me.

 

[Pepper]

The splints have REALLY helped my trigger fingers. They are gone, at least for now!

 

[feywon]

My trouble is a minor loss of sensation, but what appears to be decline in grip strength, which is kind of hard for me to grasp, as I work out with weights several times a week.

I have trouble operating chop sticks...used to be a pro.

Maybe Chopsticks-- fine motor skills needed. Weights more of gross motor skill as fingers don't have curl as tight or do intricate manuevers with them.???

 

[Tish]

I have a neat trick for Jars, I stab the top and it releases the airlock.

 

[Nathan]

Maybe Chopsticks-- fine motor skills needed. Weights more of gross motor skill as fingers don't have curl as tight or do intricate manuevers with them.???

@feywon , I think you 'nailed it'. Keyword: improve fine motor skills -->--> google search

So, not only developing strength but strengthening the hand-eye-brain connections as well.

 

[feywon]

I have a neat trick for Jars, I stab the top and it releases the airlock.

I put a spoon under edge of lid, twist it or squeeze handle of it to jar depending on size & shape of jar, lhear a 'pop' sound when airlock releases and doesn't leave a hole in lid.

 

[Nathan]

My grip has diminished somewhat. I can open ring tab cans ok, but have trouble with other things. Plastic clam shell packaging for instance and certain jars.

Plastic clam shell packaging, made for the convenience of the machine at the packaging plant and not particularly with human hands in mind.

 

[Sunny]

I have been using these for the past few years, my sister bought it for me when I sprained my wrist.
I got used to using them and now it's second nature.
View attachment 217095

I have the same set, Tish, except mine are green. I particularly use the jar opener on the left a lot, as it has all those convenient sizes. The third from the left, with the black handle, is perfect for opening large soda bottles and the occasional screw-top wine bottle. I would be helpless a lot without these gizmos, and they were amazingly cheap. I bought them online.