Disability will cost more in terms of caring for your living space, too. The financial impact reaches all areas of life, no exceptions. When family members can offer help it's invaluable, but not every arthritis patient has family in close proximity. You may need to pay for the extra help you need and that can be hard when money is already tight. Finding affordable help at a reasonable price is the obvious goal. You may need a housekeeper, handyman, and landscaper.

Unfortunately, people with disabilities fear being taken advantage of and having to pay higher prices than most people. It's harder for people with disabilities to deal with hired help, and yet their need is even greater. Finding dependable help is very important.

Be sure to check if the person you are hiring is licensed and insured by the company you contracted with. If you are hiring occasional workers, consider talking to an insurance professional to make sure you have enough liability coverage in your homeowners policy. If you hire someone to work in your home on a regularly scheduled basis, you may need to purchase a workers' compensation policy. If the person you are hiring will be driving your car, it is advisable to notify your car-insurance company.

This is probably beginning to sound outrageously expensive and unaffordable. Your choices will depend on what you can afford. Just don't make the mistake of skipping over insurance issues that could have disastrous financial consequences. More information is available through the Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org/individuals/other/insurance/householdhelp).