Housework Tips

Expert Column

Ernest Rosenbaum, MD

Ernest Rosenbaum, MD, is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San...read more

Articles In This Column

January 22nd, 2008

Housework

Sit rather than stand.
Have work in front of you rather than at the side.
Reduce range and force when moving.
Slide rather than lift objects.
Try to maintain good posture when standing, bending, and sitting.
To reduce fatigue, use fitted bed sheets to eliminate energy spent on bedmaking.
To decrease the need for bending, use long-handled dustpans or self-wringing mops.
Store frequently-used items close to you.
Containerize: put everything needed for a task in a basket or box; an example would be grouping together items for morning care (Figure 21).

Toiletries

Wear a cobbler's apron (Figure 22) or similar garment for carrying small lightweight items to reduce unnecessary trips about the house.

Toiletries

Use a wheeled cart for moving items from one room to another.
Alternate work and rest periods.
Plan a basic itinerary for the day to reduce unnecessary motions and steps.
Pace your work schedule. Don't try to complete all tasks in one day. Have a weekly plan for scheduling major tasks such as washing, ironing, shopping, and cleaning, to spread them out over separate days.


Editor's Note: Adapted from A Comprehensive Guide for Cancer Patients and Their Families. Bull Publishing Company: Palo Alto, CA, 1980. Selection authored by Judy Bray, OTR.