For people with fine motor impairment or movement control difficulties, using standard cutlery and crockery to both prepare food and eat independently can be challenging. A range of commercially available adapted cutlery is available that includes:
- cutlery with built up or contoured handles
- cutlery with angled heads to enable use with a gross grip or cuff hold for those with reduced fine motor control
- cutlery with angled or arched handles
- spoons with a specialised coating to minimise damage to lips and teeth when eating from either; sensitivity to temperature, biting reflex or uncontrolled hand movements
- utensils such as peelers and stirring spoons with built up handles for easier gripping
- cutlery with adjustable swiveling heads for those with limited hand function
- left and right handed utensils and cutlery
- cutlery with hand straps to assist with holding
- utensil handles
A range of commercially available adapted crockery is available that includes:
- cups and mugs with alternative grips and shapes to cater for people with differing capabilities, such as one and two handled mugs
- cups or mugs that are sealed with lids for people unable to hold cups steady (with or without straw hole or spout)
- insulated cups or mugs for ipeople with temperature sensitivity
- food guards which are placed external to a plate to enable food to be eaten one handed with the guard used to push food against
- plates and bowls with weighted bases
- plates and bowls with inbuilt raised sides to enable scooping against
- insulated bowls and plates for those sensitive to temperature or those that eat slowly and need insulation to keep food warm
- plates with suction pads underneath to secure to the table.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
For people working in kitchen or meal preparation environments with disability affecting their capacity to grip handles on cutlery and utensils, or to work two handed; adapted crockery and cutlery may be of assistance in increasing task independence, endurance and productivity.
More information on catering equipment can be found at the links below:
References
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2011, Eating & Drinking: Plates & Bowls, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 2 April 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=NSW&MC=31&MinC=21.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2011, Eating & Drinking: Plate Guards, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 2 April 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=NSW&MC=31&MinC=22.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2011, Eating & Drinking: Spoons, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 2 April 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=NSW&MC=31&MinC=10.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2011, Eating & Drinking: Forks & Multi-Purpose Cutlery, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 2 April 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=NSW&MC=31&MinC=11.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2011, Eating & Drinking: Cutlery Handle Adaptations & Orthoses, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 2 April 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=NSW&MC=31&MinC=15.
Independent Living Centres Australia Inc. 2011, Eating & Drinking: Cups & Mugs, Independent Living Centres Australia Inc., Sydney, viewed 2 April 2011, http://www.ilcaustralia.org/search3.asp?State=NSW&MC=31&MinC=30.