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35 Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis To Help Them Cope with Daily Life

35 thoughtful gifts for someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis to help them cope with the stress and pain of daily living with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

35 thoughtful gifts for someone with rheumatoid arthritis to relieve the stress and pain of daily life. image features a closeup of an older woman's 2 hands, one is bent showing arthritic inflammation and she's massaging one hand with the other.

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Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis or other joint or mobility problems can be a real challenge. Seemingly simple tasks are suddenly painful, frustrating or downright impossible. Luckily, there are plenty of great products on the market that can make living with Rheumatoid Arthritis more tolerable. And with the holidays just around the corner, I thought I would post a gift guide for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients or those with other joint or mobility problems.

These are things I have purchased or received in the past or thought would help ease my arthritis symptoms in my hands, back or feet. Give them a try and tell me what your most helpful tools are to help you, your friends or your loved ones cope with the daily stress of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

I hope you find this gift guide for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients helpful. If you’re a patient, let me know what helps you cope with RA and what I need to add to this list. You might also like my post on 5 essential steps to understanding chronic illness which has more tools I used to figure out my body and reduce my daily pain and autoimmune related symptoms by 90%.

Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Relieve Stress

1. Aromatherapy lotions

I got some of this Bath & Body Works Stress Relief bath and lotion* as a gift when my now 20-something year old was a toddler. It’s still my favorite lotion and I use it especially on hard days. As soon as I smell it, it really does relieve some of the tension that life can bring. 

My other favorite bubble bath is Dr. Teals Sleep Bath with Melatonin and Essential Oils (the one with the dark purple label and white lettering). I’m not normally a bath person but I had to wear a heart monitor for 2 weeks partly due to stress and this bath really helped me destress when I couldn’t get the monitor wet.

2. Coloring Books

Since I was a kid, I have always loved to color. As someone with not an artistic bone in her body, I have always loved coloring since I can’t draw the pictures myself. Johanna Basford’s coloring books are some of my favorite coloring books to take the stress off and get my mind off my troubles and I use a good ole pack of Crayola colored pencils*. We even make coloring a family activity and the boys and I work on a page together.

OMG! I just saw that Johanna Basford is releasing a new coloring book called “Small Victories: A coloring book of little wins and miniature masterpieces” just like part of the name of my blog. I’ll be pre-ordering this one!

3. Coloring Bible

I’m Catholic so I was so excited to find a Catholic Coloring Bible as it provides comfort when I color and read passages about God’s love for me despite what I’m going through. The line art is gorgeous whether you color it in or not! I am going to get some verithin Prismacolor colored pencils for mine because the art is so detailed and intricate.

The Inspire line has lots of different coloring bibles in different translations. If you’re a Christian, it’s worth looking into.

4. Journals

Journaling has really helped me deal with my mindset and feelings. The chronic nature of Rheumatoid Arthritis means it’s a constant battle and some days are better than others for our bodies and minds. I find journaling helpful both to process and make sense of my feelings and to document my small victories and gratitude in everyday life.

Even on bad RA days, I make sure to document my small victories and write about what I want to get done when I’m feeling more myself. Sometimes that’s taking a shower or drinking a nice hot cup of chai to remind me of my parents and give me comfort. On good days, that’s decluttering or cooking a meal for my family. Having that small victories and gratitude journal is also helpful to flip back through when I’m feeling sad so I can remember what I accomplished and it usually life my spirits.

When you subscribe to my newsletter, you can get free journaling prompts if you are new to journaling and want to give it a try. Just grab a notebook or one of these pretty ones which are my favorite:

Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Relieve Pain

 5. Golf or Cane Chair

This cane chair has been a lifesaver when we travel, go to amusement parks, malls or when there is a lot of walking and I need a place to sit. When it’s folded, I can use it as a cane to help me not limp and when open, it’s an instant chair for whenever and wherever I need it. I even take it with me to soccer practice and games as it’s easier to carry than a regular folding chair and is as light as an umbrella. This chair is definitely worth it, we have one for each car now and it stays in the trunks so I always have it.

It sure came in handy during an unexpected 1 hour wait in line to vote with no chairs around. It’s saved my feet more times than I can count. Be sure it’s stable and on balanced ground before you sit in it.

 6. Steering Wheel Cover

We always put a massaging steering wheel cover on our cars but I did not realize how much it helped me grip the wheel until we took it off. Don’t have one, get one! It helps to add thickness to the wheel which makes it easier to grip.

7. Microwaveable Heating Pad

A microwaveable heating pad to be able to put the warmth right where you need it.

8. A Foot Spa for Achy Feet

A bubbly warm foot spa followed by soothing peppermint foot lotion. The smell of the lotion alone puts me at ease after a long day.

 9. An Electric Heating Pad

This electric heating pad is a lifesaver for back pain. It definitely helped take the edge off the pain until medicine could kick in.

10. Compression Gloves

I have some copper compression gloves like these and I do like them especially when I’m driving and running errands or working at the computer for long periods. They are snug so hard to get on and off if you wash your hands a lot so I don’t wear them when I cook.

Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Sleep Better

11. An Electric Blanket

dual-control plush electric blanket is a great gift idea and an essential for people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The mild, soothing heat can comfort cold, painful joints and help you get a better night’s sleep.

Dual controls are essential if two of you share a bed. I am always colder than my husband and my blanket is always on in the winter. I preheat my bed while I change my clothes and it’s nice and warm when I am ready to get into bed.

 12. Tempurpedic Mattress and Pillows

We bought a Tempurpedic memory foam mattress more than a decade ago and it helps me sleep so much better. Ours has a massaging function and is adjustable so we can sit up in bed or lay it down. Now they also make ones where each side adjusts which would be great for me who’s early to bed and hubby who stays up later. Honestly, I don’t use the massager much anymore because if you’re downstairs it sounds like there’s an earthquake and I don’t need it as much.

But I really can’t sleep anywhere else as comfortably. The memory foam just hugs me and cushions my achy joints. I always sleep on my left side so thankfully i don’t wake up all sore like on a traditional mattress.

I know the full mattress is quite an investment but the mattress toppers are much more reasonable and worth a try if it means you get better rest.

and I absolutely LOVE my TempurPedic Cloud Pillow.

I love the TempurPedic brand but here are some other highly rated memory foam mattress toppers and pillows that are more budget friendly:

  

Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis who is always cold

13. Mittens for badly damaged hands

My hands are the most impacted by my RA. I cannot get my fingers into regular gloves very well so usually wear mittens in the winter. It keeps my hands warmer but it I have to take them off to drive since many mittens do not grip the wheel well enough.


I saw these convertible mittens the other day which would be perfect to be able to just fold the top down to be able to grip the steering wheel and convert them back when going outside.

14 – 16. Blankets, Robes and Comfy Socks

On tough days when my pain is bad, I normally want to get as comfortable and cozy as possible. I usually wear pajamas, hubby’s sweatshirts, a robe we got at a spa, fuzzy socks or cozy up under one of my favorite sherpa blankets which helps me get cozy and warm.

Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis who loves to Read

17. Kindle Paperwhite

I am a book lover myself and received an early Christmas present from my Superhubby back in 2012 and loved it so much I got an upgraded one in 2022. The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is amazingly light to hold even when it is in its cover, lighter and easier to hold than a paper book, now it’s even waterproof for worry free reading poolside, in the tub or at the beach.

It has a low light function which makes it perfect for reading at night and is easy to read during the day as well. I lie on my side when I read so I can prop the Kindle up on a pillow or the cover makes a tent for hands-free reading. I love the Kindle so much, I’d much rather give up my smartphone than my Kindle! I have the ad free one and 8 GB which is plenty of space for me since I primarily read books I borrow from the library.

Here are 9 Reasons Why I Love My Kindle

 

18. Reading Journals

This Reading Journal is so pretty and here are some other reading journals for book lovers to escape reality and dream of other places and adventures.

19. Bath Tray so You Can Read in the Bathtub

This bamboo bathtub tray is on my wishlist so I can read my Kindle while enjoying my bubble bath. My joints are not coordinated enough to hold the book above the water as long as I want to be in there.

20. Bookmark Page Holder

If your loved one with Rheumatoid Arthritis has trouble holding physical books like I do, so this pretty page holder will hold the book open for them.

Jewelry Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis

I love to wear jewelry but it is often difficult for me to grip the clasp to be able to put it on by myself. If your gift recipient is like me, here are a couple of suggestions.

21. Bracelet Helper and Magnetic Jewelry Clasps

Try the bracelet helper to be able to put bracelets on yourself or change the clasps on necklaces or bracelets to magnetic clasps to make them a cinch to get on and bring a little bling to life with RA. 

22. Long Necklaces and Stretch Bracelets that Are Easy to Slip On

Or, try necklace where you can choose the length and clasp (including magnetic) so the necklace is long enough to slip over the person’s head without the clasp, gorgeous stretch bracelets or a cuff bracelet to inspire you that are all easy to slip on. 

You can even customize a cuff bracelet. I want to put my word of the year on mine so I remember to follow through with my yearly intention. Or put a few meaningful words to remind them they are loved.

 

Gardening Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis

23. Kneeling Pad

These foam kneeling pads are great for gardeners but we also have one for inside when I need to clean the shower floor or bathtub and it saves my knees from pain at least for a little while. My husband also uses it when he needs to do a toilet repair, or cleaning and painting the trim. You might want one for outside and one for inside too.

24. Gardening Bench and Kneeler

This gardening bench can be flipped upside down to become a kneeling pad. It has pockets for their gardening tools so everything stays in arm’s reach.

25. Long Handle Weeder

A long handle weeder so they don’t have to bend over as much to get the weeds out.

Cooking Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis

26. Electric Can Opener

An automatic can opener – I like that this can opener cuts with a smooth edge and will save my hands the pain of twisting the handle. I like the Good Grips brand of kitchen gadgets because their wider handles are easier for me to hold but even their manual can opener is hard for me.

27. Wide Jar Opener for People with Weak Hands

Need more ideas for the kitchen? Check out my 10 Must Have Tools in the Kitchen.

28. Stand Mixer

Kitchenaid stand mixer to help mix pizza dough, cookie or pancake batter, beat eggs, shred cooked chicken or even mix the meat for meatballs! With hands that have been deformed by RA, mixing meatballs with my hands is frustrating and futile. With the mixer, a few whirls of the paddle attachment and it’s all evenly mixed. It seems like every day I find an excuse to use my mixer. 

 29. Anti-Fatigue Mat

An anti-fatigue mat to put on the floor near the sink or oven for when you will be standing for long periods of time. It’s like having insoles on the floor. If I could line my kitchen and bathroom floors with this material, I would! I have one near the oven and one near the sink. Though i think they would be good in the laundry room too for when I’m standing there and folding clothes.

30. Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker

The

31. Done for You Recipe Boxes and Menu Plans

I cook out of necessity but not because I love to. I have found these Passionate Penny Pincher menu plan boxes invaluable. Each set comes with 12 weeks worth of delicious recipes (4 dinners and 1 dessert per week) with a weekly grocery list already made up. All you have to do is grab the list, add other items you might need and head to the store. It’s a huge time and sanity saver on brain foggy days.

The recipes make quite a bit of food so for the four of us at home right now so I usually only make 4 dinner recipes and don’t do the dessert and it makes plenty of food for the week for us to have dinners everyday (2 teen sons, hubby and I) and lunches for hubby and I who both work from home.

I have the pdf version of probably 7 of the done for you menu plans because they are cheaper and I keep them in binders and sheet protectors. But they also come in recipe boxes with traditional recipe cards inside and you can buy a gorgeous recipe tin to match.

These are the done for you menu plans I have:

  • Slow Cooker volume 1
  • Freezer Meals
  • Celebrations
  • Low Calorie
  • Summer
  • 5 ingredients or less
  • Sides

At the beginning of the month on a good RA day, I cook/prep one week from the freezer meals menu plan box (i have the freezer meal plan pdf version). I will freeze some of the meals but it gives you instructions on how to prep all for the freezer and then what you need to do on the day you cook it.

This was really helpful for me in February when I did an eat at home challenge to eat family dinners in everyday. It’s nice having meals already prepared in the freezer that just need to be cooked.

They even sell freezer bag stands and the freezer meal insert cards so you know how to prep it on cooking day which are both very helpful.

My next favorite menu plan is the slow cooker menu plan of course (I have the slow cooker menu plan pdf version). Very tasty and different recipes, yes they even have slow cooker breakfasts mixed in and a slow cooker dessert each week too! They’ve been very tasty recipes!

32. Dairy Free Keto Cooking Cookbook for Dairy Free and Gluten Free Recipes

I’m not following a Keto diet and counting carbs or anything but I do get dairy free keto recipes because I know they will be dairy free, gluten free and sugar free (the 3 biggest triggers for my Rheumatoid Arthritis when it comes to food). And it’s hard finding dairy free, gluten free and sugar free recipes that actually taste good!

I get overwhelmed trying to hunt for recipes that fit all 3 categories but this Dairy Free Keto Cooking cookbook has it all and they are sooo good. Our favorite recipes:

  • Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad
  • Spaghetti squash with meat sauce
  • prosciutto wrapped chicken with broccoli sheet pan meal
  • chile lime chicken with avocado salsa
  • loco moco
  • sesame chicken egg roll in a bowl
  • strawberry mint salsa
  • grilled steak with chimichurri sauce and strawberry cucmber mint salsa
  • braised sausage and peppers
  • mini meatloaves with brussel sprouts
  • cranberry (almond) broccoli salad (i omit almonds because i’m allergic)
  • sausage and kale egg muffins

It even has a nightshade-free meal plan if you find nightshades are a trigger for your Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Dairy Free Keto Cooking recipes have all been healthy, flavorful and absolutely delicious. Even my pickest eatier has no problem gobbling these up.

Health & Fitness Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis

33. FitBit with Heart Monitor 

One of the challenges of Rheumatoid Arthritis is figuring out what works for you and your body when it comes to exercise. There is a very fine line between moving to keep your joints mobile and overdoing it which can trigger a flare.

Surprisingly, one of the best tools to help me figure out my body was a FitBit. I wore it not to get 10,000 steps a day like an average person or compete with my active Superhubby or friends. But I used the FitBit to figure out how many steps I could take before my feet were in too much pain so I can better plan my day between tasks that require being on and off my feet.

I also recommend getting one that takes your heart rate. I was diagnosed with premature atrial contractions due to possibly COVID and stress in 2022 (basically a double heartbeat) so my pulse was only in the 30’s instead of my normal 60’s/70’s. It caused dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pressure and I thought i was having a heart attack on Halloween.

I’ve been mindful about managing stress, avoiding some potassium and calcium rich foods and that helped get rid of the symptoms but the contractions aren’t gone. They seem to still come and go. This Fitbit monitors heart rate and daily stress management score so I think it’s a great, affordable physical and mental health tracker. I’m partial to the pink but it comes in black and orange bands as well.

34. Wellness Journals

Here are some of my favorite wellness and medical treatment journals to help your loved one stay focused on their health and self care:

Gifts for Someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Battles Brain Fog

35. Planners!

It’s no secret that age, kids and hectic schedules can cause us to forget things. But it’s also true that Rheumatoid Arthritis and the medicines we take for it can cause brain fog, the fuzzy headed, difficulty concentrating feelings we can get. 

I am always worried that I’m forgetting something so I rely on planners and bullet journals to help me keep my goals realistic and in perspective given my health. It helps keep me organized and remember all the things. I’m a total planner addict these days but it’s a complete necessity so I can still keep up with mom life and these busy boys who deserve the best I can give them. 

I’ve done a ton of planner reviews on this blog but i’ll break down the ones I think are most helpful and have enough space to track both goals and health issues. I really need a 2 pages per day format, one page to track my tasks and schedule and another to track my symptoms, food ate, mood and feelings.

Well those are my favorite gadgets and gizmos to make life coping with RA just a little easier. I hope you found some thoughtful and useful gifts for someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis, whether that’s you or someone you love.

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More Gift Guides You Might Enjoy: 

More Practical Coping with Rheumatoid Arthritis Resources:

Do you or someone you love have Rheumatoid Arthritis? Be sure to check out these practical and thoughtful gift ideas for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis so you can help them alleviate their stress or physical pain.

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32 Comments

  1. Pingback: Busy Monday 363
  2. Hello TANYA,
    Excellent resources for aged people who needs arthritis aids.
    I am after kitchen-aid stand mixer for my grandmother. Do you have idea regarding amazon shipment to New Zealand?Will they ship products to New Zealand or not?
    This product might be excellent as it is multi-tasking mixer.
    Cheers
    Arran

  3. Wow, thanks for this list. I have a friend who’s suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis and his birthday is coming up. Thanks again for this great insight into what these people actually need and want.

  4. I would add to your list the jar opener also found on Amazon. Just like the can opener it turns the jar lid for you. I LOVE anything with heat. Good list.

  5. This is such a wonderful list! Super helpful. 🙂 Pinning this to our #MMBH. Thank you for sharing.
    I love Bath & Body Works’ Stress Relief aromatherapy products.
    XO

  6. I loved the Bath & BodyWorks Aromatherapy stress relief body wash when I was a stressed-out college kid, and the anti-fatigue mat is great for anyone!

  7. Great list of items. I love the cane chair and honestly I could use some of these to help me after a long day at work. I might need to get the foot spa and peppermint anything is heavenly!

    1. Thanks Lowanda, that came chair has saved my feet so many times and yes after a long day at work, the foot spa and peppermint lotion are heavenly! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

  8. I have a friend with RA. I know she’d enjoy several of these items. Thank you for the ideas!
    (I’m your neighbor at Motivation Monday this week!)

  9. These are awesome ideas! I have also heard that people with RA love fuzzy socks and slippers that are easy to get on! Thank you so much for hosting the #SmallVictoriesSundayLinkup!

    1. Aw thanks, Dayngr. I figure if it helps me, I hope these ideas will help others with RA too. Winters are especially rough. Thanks for stopping by and sharing on the NCBN roundup!

  10. These are right on target! Good job! I have chronic pain issues too, but I don’t know why. I have a rheumatologist appointment on Wednesday, and I’m just hoping for answers.

    1. I’m so sorry you have chronic pain issues, I do hope the rheumatologist can help you find answers. I know waiting for diagnosis was the hardest time in my journey. And then finding our the right cocktail of medicines that would work to combat the pain. I’ll be thinking of you that things go well enough that doc finds answers for you so you can start healing. I do hope you keep me posted and feel free to send me message if you like to talk more.

    1. Yes, i really need the anti fatigue mat and still have not bought one. Having it on my wish list for the last 3 years is so not working! Really I want to replace my entire kitchen floor with that kind of material…if only….:)

    1. Aw thanks Barb. It can be hard as a patient but many of my gifts (especially jewelry) goes unworn if I can’t get it on or over my misshapen hands or books I can’t hold because they are too big and cumbersome. Sometimes it seems like a simple thing to do but for an RA patient, it can be surprisingly difficult.

  11. For the kitchen, I’d add purchasing the silicone liners for cookie sheets and baking trays. We use them in roasting pans and they make clean up so fantastically simple; and they are dishwasher safe (at least in the top rack). Get two!

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