I’ve used arts and crafts, mainly papercraft, as a mindful activity for some years now. Knitting is a skill that has always eluded me though.

We tested different rechargeable hand warmers through at-home testing, but only eight performed well enough to be included in our list of favorites. Our testers did have some positive comments about the following models but noted that they fell just short in a few key areas. She said, “The first thing to think about when considering a twiddle muff or blanket for somebody with dementia is, ‘is that item appropriate for that person?’. Restlessness may be evident in a person with dementia but not everyone will benefit from one. However, someone with more advanced symptoms of dementia or sensory impairment such as loss of vision/hearing may benefit from a tactile, calming and comforting item like a twiddle muff or blanket. You also need to think about the quality of the twiddle muff; if items such as buttons can be removed, they could be swallowed and be a choking hazard.” Because symptoms of Raynaud’s do not only occur when people are outside but also can show up when you’re inside, it is important to have a hand warmer that is easy to use when you need it. The ORORO Bay City Heated Hand Warmer fits the bill.

About the author 

For people with Raynaud’s, using hand warmers can help alleviate these symptoms. But even people who do not have arthritis or Raynaud’s may have a use for hand warmers. If you spend a great deal of time outdoors hiking, camping, or even attending sporting events, hand warmers can be a helpful addition to your gear and help prevent injuries from the cold, including frostbite. Snow Deer Electric Heated Gloves: While these gloves are made of good-quality waterproof material, and the heat radiated beautifully throughout, the battery is short-lived, lasting only about two hours. Additionally, the instructions were not very intuitive, and the positioning of the fingers inside the glove is a cross between a mitten and a glove, which can be awkward. Any person with fragile or thin skin needs to be careful using hand warmers because they are more prone to injury,” Gupta adds. “You also should not fall asleep using them. And you would not want to use a hand warmer if you have an acute traumatic injury. In those situations, ice or cold is more beneficial than heat.”

Very important, all decorating items should be securely attached so that clients cannot pull them out. Twiddlemuffs are usually made from left-over acrylic wool, however fleece tubes and other recycled wool products are also suitable. Twiddlemuffs (or twiddlemitts) are knitted hand-warmers that provide sensory stimulation for people living with dementia. They keep restless hands busy and soothe and comfort those who are anxious or agitated. Finally, we collated all that information to come up with a list of the 10 best hand warmers that we think offered something for everyone. About the authorThe only downsides to this hand warmer are its poorly translated instructions as well as the number of buttons it has. These two characteristics somewhat hinder its intuitiveness and took some time for us to become familiar with the product and what it was capable of. Throughout the testing, we evaluated how effectively the hand warmers worked. We considered how warm the devices were and whether or not they stayed warm while being used. We researched dozens of rechargeable hand warmers and had our editors test 14 of them. Our editors used the hand warmers at least five times (for three hours at a time) through a two-week testing period in the winter. We evaluated the products for their number of heat settings, how long the battery lasts, and extras, such as charging ports or flashlights. We also considered cost, durability, and effectiveness when selecting the best hand warmers for our list. After receiving a huge donation of knitted goods from the knit ‘n’ natter group, I spoke with Suzanne Wightman, one of our Professional and Practice Development Facilitators, about distributing them to people who need them most.