Purses for arthritic hands?

Patronus

Hello there.

My Mother suffers with arthritis, it has got significantly worse in her hands and fingers lately. The purse she did have had a very tight coin compartment and she found it difficult to get the coins out or find the ones she needed.

She is currently using an old one of mine but it is a very young style and she'd like a new one of her own. I'd like to buy her one but am totally stuck on where to look. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Looking for -
Decent sized coin area that is easy to get fingers in and easy to locate/grab coins.
Small enough to fit in a small handbag.
Enough room for several cards.
Preferably not TOO expensive.

Thank you so much for any suggestions!
:beer:

kingfisherblue

This is a hard one - I'm quite fussy about purses and won't have one that has black fabric inside, as it makes the coins harder to see, especially if lighting is poor. All I can suggest is going round the shops and looking for something suitable - try shops that you wouldn't normally try, as well as those you would. I bought my latest purse from Next, but had gone in there to buy a bra .

Try department stores such as Debenhams, John Lewis, or Selfridges. Clothes shops such as Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Evans (if you and your mum are not larger sizes, you might not think of Evans, as it is associated with being for larger ladies, but they often have lovely accessories). Shoe shops, Marks and Spencer, market stalls, etc.

It will be a bit of a trail round, but at least you are likelyt o get something suitable.

You could also ring a Disabled Living Centre to see if they have any products on their books, but I think this might be a 'trial and error' type of thing.

Fen1

Have you thought about small make-up bags? Some have dividers inside, so Mum could keep coins one side, cards on the other.
The corded zips might be easier to handle than clasps.

Patronus

Thank you both! I'll head in to town and have a look around and see if I can find something suitable for her.

kingfisherblue

Zips would be more likely to be easier - if the zip pull is too small, you can attach a bead threaded onto a paper clip, or loop some thread so that your mum can hook her fingers into the loop and pull.

happydays09

I found a great purse for my aunt on our local market! She liked it over more expensive purses because it was soft leather rather that the stiffer, more rigid leather/ compartments. It meant she could 'manipulate' the leather (oo er) better to get at her cash and cards. Oo and it also had zips rather than pres-studs (?). And it was a lovely bright red! All for six quid

Tiddlywinks

Kipling purses are brilliant as they have chunky zips and tabs.

This is the one I use at the moment (I have dexterity probs left over from two carpal tunnel ops and shoulder release surgery):

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.126599.cm_scid.KeywordSearch

I'd recommend buying from QVC as your mum can try it out for a couple of weeks and then return it if it is not suitable - they offer a 30 day money back promise even if you've used the items.

kingfisherblue

Expensive, though - £28.11 plus £3.45 p&p :eek:

Tiddlywinks

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Expensive, though - £28.11 plus £3.45 p&p :eek:

They do last - I've had mine for at least 18 months and there is no sign of wear at all.

Try Googling the name of this purse "new money"+Kipling to see if there are any offers around.

Just seen it cheaper on Kipling website but only in one colour:

http://www.kipling.com/uk-en/new-money-6077.html?show_img=K1097315500+999

24skins

I have similar problems to Tiddlywinks & find purses with oversized push locks are easiest for me to use, also I use a separate purse for excess coins so as not to drop them all when putting change in my main wallet

sunnyone

Ive got RA in my paws and I use suede draw string coin bag got for my at a historical event by someone who knew the problems I was having.

Its very soft suede with a very soft leather cord threaded around the neck, Ive seen them for sale in many historical towns around the country.