Free Checklists, Planners & Practical Tools for Living With Arthritis
Living with arthritis often means finding small ways to make everyday tasks easier, conserve energy, protect your joints, and prepare for more difficult days.
The Arthritis Wares Printables Library provides free, practical checklists and planning tools you can print and use at home. Each resource focuses on a specific everyday challenge rather than trying to cover everything in one worksheet.
No sign-up is required. Download the printable you need, keep a copy where it is useful, and return to it whenever your needs change.
Free Arthritis Printables
Daily Joint Protection
Daily Joint Protection Checklist
A practical reminder for reviewing everyday habits that may place unnecessary strain on your joints.
Use it to think through:
- Hand and grip habits
- Movement and posture
- Lifting and carrying
- Modifying difficult tasks
- Rest and pacing
- Personal strategies that work for you
Best for: Everyday joint protection and task awareness.
Managing Difficult Symptom Days
Arthritis Flare-Up Action Plan
A simple plan for days when arthritis symptoms become more difficult. It helps you recognize early changes, decide which activities to pause or modify, and organize comfort, pacing, and support strategies.
Use it to review:
- Early warning signs
- Activities to pause or modify
- Comfort and support options
- Rest and pacing
- People or tasks that may need support
- Personal notes about what helps you
Best for: Preparing for and managing difficult flare-up days.
Energy & Fatigue Management
Energy Conservation & Fatigue Management Checklist
A flexible planning tool for people whose energy levels vary from day to day.
It can help you think about:
- Planning activities
- Pacing your energy
- Simplifying tasks
- Rest and recovery
- How much effort different activities require
- Your personal energy patterns
Best for: Pacing activities and making better use of limited energy.
Mobility Aids
Mobility Aid Fit & Adjustment Checklist
A practical checklist for reviewing the fit and basic setup of a cane, walker, or rollator.
It covers areas such as:
- Cane height and grip
- Walker and rollator handle height
- Posture and positioning
- Brake access on wheeled mobility aids
- Comfort and stability
- When an adjustment may be needed
Best for: Reviewing mobility-aid fit and setup.
Important: A checklist can help you identify basic fit and adjustment considerations, but it does not replace professional assessment when you have questions about safe mobility or the correct use of an aid.
Home Accessibility & Safety
Home Accessibility Mini-Assessment
Home Accessibility Mini-Assessment
A room-by-room tool for identifying parts of your home that may be difficult because of reaching, bending, gripping, navigating, or other everyday challenges.
Use it to:
- Identify areas that are difficult to use
- Spot opportunities for simple modifications
- Prioritize changes
- Work through your home one area at a time
Best for: Identifying accessibility barriers and deciding what could be made easier.
Arthritis-Friendly Home Safety Checklist
Arthritis-Friendly Home Safety Checklist
A practical checklist for reviewing common home safety and comfort considerations.
It focuses on areas such as:
- Walking and movement areas
- Bathroom setup
- Kitchen organization
- Bedroom accessibility
- Everyday household tasks
Best for: Reviewing potential safety and usability concerns around the home.
Accessibility vs. Safety: Which Should I Use?
The two home resources have different purposes:
Use the Home Accessibility Mini-Assessment when you are asking:
“What parts of my home are difficult to use, and what could I change?”
Use the Arthritis-Friendly Home Safety Checklist when you are asking:
“Are there safety or household hazards that I should address?”
You may find it useful to use both, especially when making broader changes around your home.
Travel Planning
Arthritis Travel Packing Checklist
Arthritis Travel Packing Checklist
A free printable to help you organize the items and information you may want to consider before traveling with arthritis.
It covers areas including:
- Comfort and joint support
- Medication and health essentials
- Mobility and assistance tools
- Fatigue and energy management
- Clothing and practical comfort
- Travel documents and planning
- Personal comfort reminders
Best for: Preparing and packing for a trip.
If you’re looking for broader advice about traveling with arthritis, see Traveling With Arthritis: How to Stay Comfortable & Avoid Flare-Ups.
For products and travel gear that may make a trip more comfortable, see Arthritis Travel Essentials.
How to Choose the Right Printable
You don’t need to use every resource. Start with the problem you are trying to solve.
| If you want to… | Start with… |
|---|---|
| Reduce unnecessary strain during everyday tasks | Daily Joint Protection Checklist |
| Prepare for difficult arthritis days | Arthritis Flare-Up Action Plan |
| Manage changing energy levels | Energy Conservation & Fatigue Management Checklist |
| Check your cane, walker, or rollator | Mobility Aid Fit & Adjustment Checklist |
| Identify accessibility problems around your home | Home Accessibility Mini-Assessment |
| Review household safety concerns | Arthritis-Friendly Home Safety Checklist |
| Prepare for a trip | Arthritis Travel Packing Checklist |
You can use more than one printable when your needs overlap.
How to Use the Printables
These resources are designed to be flexible.
You can:
- Print a copy and keep it somewhere convenient
- Work through one section at a time
- Add your own notes and reminders
- Share a copy with a caregiver or family member when appropriate
- Revisit a checklist as your routines or needs change
You do not have to complete every item. The goal is to identify practical changes that make sense for you.
More Arthritis Resources
The printables are designed to work alongside the broader Arthritis Wares guides.
For practical tools and daily living aids, see:
Arthritis Supplies & Tools: Complete Guide to Daily Living Aids
For information about managing everyday arthritis challenges, explore the relevant guides throughout Arthritis Wares.
About Arthritis Wares
Arthritis Wares provides practical tools, guides, and free resources designed to make everyday life with arthritis more manageable.
Our approach is simple:
Practical tools. No hype.
These printables are designed as general planning and awareness resources. They are not intended to diagnose conditions or replace individualized medical advice.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor, rheumatologist, or occupational therapist before making changes to how you manage your arthritis.
