Help and advice

Opening jars
Difficulty opening jars and bottles is common,¹ particularly among the older population.² The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) reported 2,973 accidents using jars and 14,555 involving tins during 2002.³

Most jar and bottle openers require you to hold the jar or bottle with one hand and use the jar or bottle opener in the other hand.⁴ However, it may be helpful to place the jar / bottle onto a slip-resistant mat or jar holder which will help to stop the jar turning so you can concentrate on turning the lid. With the jar or bottle stabilised, you could use both hands to grip the lid, this may help if you experience reduced grip, pain, general weakness or tremor.

• slip-resistant mats
• table top jar and bottle holders.

Tin openers
Tin openers are available with a range of features such as improved grip or automatic powered operation. The tin openers included may have large moulded handles, be wall mounted or have powered operation. Can ring pull openers which are suitable for one-handed use are also included.

Opening packets
It may be helpful to secure a packet into position whilst opening it, perhaps by wedging the packet in a drawer.

For further advice that may be relevant to opening packaging you may like to read our advice on Choosing scissors .

View references and sources of further information ‣