Special Cutlery

You may need special cutlery if you have difficulty using regular cutlery. This could be due to a lack of strength or impaired coordination in your arms and hands, hand tremors, or the fact that you can use only one hand.

Maybe you have the option to use your existing cutlery and simply acquire grip adapters for it. Grip adapters encompass both thick grips made from various materials that are placed around your existing cutlery, as well as fastening grips made of Velcro, plastic, nylon, or similar materials that secure the cutlery to your hand.

There are also alternatives if you have difficulty independently moving the cutlery from the plate to your mouth due to reduced control, strength, or mobility in your arms and hands. In such cases, mechanical or electronic feeding apparatus can be useful. The mechanical feeding apparatus is placed securely on the table, and you guide the cutlery to your mouth by moving the robotic arm with your hand. The electronic feeding apparatus is controlled by a controller or an on/off switch.

If you are unsure about which type of cutlery best suits your needs, you can contact your municipality and have a professional access your situation. Even if you do not apply the municipality for a grant for the cutlery, they can still give you guidance on the choice and use of the cutlery.

Cutlery is often available for purchase in both complete sets or individually. For instance, you may only need an angled spoon or you may need a whole cutlery set with thick handles.

Thick grips

You may benefit from cutlery with an extra thick grip if you have reduced strength or control in your fingers and hands or have pain, for instance, due to arthritis. The thick grip is easier to grasp and hold onto, for instance if it is painful to maintain a tight grip with your fingers or if you don’t have enough strength in your fingers to hold onto the cutlery. Cutlery with thick grip can relieve the joints and muscles in your hand, arm, and around the shoulder.

You can also use separate thick grips (grip adapters) that you attach to regular cutlery. For adapting cutlery, there are also foam cylinders that you can cut to the length that fits the cutlery. These can also be used for other utensils such as toothbrushes and writing utensils. Grip adapters and foam cylinders should be sized to both grip the cutlery or tool and have an external dimension that suits your needs.

Heavy cutlery

Cutlery with a heavy handle can compensate for hand instability. For instance, if you have involuntary movements or if your hands shakes a lot, the weight of the cutlery can, in some cases, make it easier to control. Typically, cutlery with a heavy handle also has a thick grip, which further assists in obtaining a secure hold on the cutlery.

Lightweight cutlery

It can be an advantage to use special lightweight cutlery, for instance if you have limited strength and have challenges lifting regular cutlery. Lightweight cutlery is also available in versions with thick handles, and in angled versions.

Angled cutlery

If you have reduced mobility in your arms and/or wrists, angled cutlery can be a useful solution. You can find cutlery that is angled to the right or the left.
With angled cutlery, you can avoid turning your wrist when bringing the fork or spoon to your mouth. The angled knives have a vertical handle, allowing you simply to move them back and forth with a straight wrist, thereby avoiding strain on the wrist and rotation in the forearm. Angled cutlery typically also comes with a thick grip.
Some cutlery features a flexible head, allowing you to adjust the angle as needed. However, it is advisable to avoid changing the angle too frequently, as the metal may become soft.

Anti-slip surface

Cutlery with an anti-slip surface on the handle makes it easier for you to maintain a firm grip on the cutlery. The anti-slip surface can be either straight or have grooves. Often, the cutlery will feature both a thick handle and an anti-slip surface to provide an extra secure grip.

Cutlery attached to the hand

If you have difficulty holding onto cutlery, it might help you to use cutlery that can be attached to your hand. The holder can be adjusted to fit your hand and is available in nylon, with Velcro, or as a plastic splint. These holders are also available as separate grip adapters with fastening mechanisms, that can be attached to your own cutlery.

The cutlery can also be designed with an extra long handle made of a soft material, allowing the handle itself to wrap around the wrist to ensure that you don’t drop the cutlery.

Cutlery with attachment to the hand or wrist is typically used for spoons and forks, as they are not stable enough to provide effective support for using a knife.

Plastic cutlery

If you are very sensitive and don’t like the sensation of cutlery made of metal, cutlery in a plastic material can be an alternative. If you have particularly strong bite reflexes, cutlery made of silicone or rubber may be appropriate.

Cutlery for hand tremors

If you have significant hand tremors, you can acquire cutlery designed to mitigate these tremors.This type of cutlery typically features sensors in the handle that detect your tremors and stabilize the cutlery.

Furthermore, there are spoons with high edges that can securely hold both solid and liquid food on to the spoon.

Combination cutlery and rocking knives

There is cutlery that combines, e.g. a fork and a knife into one utensil. This is referred to as combination cutlery and is suitable for persons who can only use one hand and have good strength in the hand.
Furthermore, there are knives with a curved blade that can be used as as rocker knives, eliminating the need for a fork to hold on to the food when cutting it into smaller pieces. To handle the knife safely, you need to have enough strength and control to press the blade down and move the knife in the rocking motion.

Feeding cutlery

If you need assistance with being fed, there are feeding cutlery designed for this purpose. Feeding cutlery is often made of soft materials and have rounded edges to prevent mouth injury. This type of utensil may also feature a shield to prevent it from going too far into the mouth.

Advice for assisting others with eating

• The person you are assisting should sit upright and as comfortably as possible
• As the helper, position yourself to have good contact with the person you are assisting.
• Allow the person you are assisting to be as resourceful as possible during the meal.
• The person you are assisting should have as much control and influence over the meal as possible, e.g. in terms of pace, quantities, and sequence.

You can use plates with high edges or detachable food guards to put on to regular plates, makeing it easier to scoop the food onto the fork or spoon, as well as plates with a non-slip base to prevent the plate from moving while you eat.

Read more in the guide Plates and cups with special designs.

For information related to food preparation, please see the guide Assistive products for cooking.

Once you have chosen the type of cutlery that suits your needs, you may also consider whether it would be useful to have a bib in case you tend to spill your food while eating.

Please pay special attention to the whether the cutlery is dishwasher safe if that is how you prefer to clean it.

You may find that cutlery made of metallic materials can rust after some time, and grips made of rubber materials can deteriorate after prolonged use. In grips with grooves, there is a risk of bacteria hiding in the grooves. Therefore, make sure to wash the grips thoroughly.