How to Seniorize a Kitchen

The standing, bending, reaching, gripping and lifting that often comes with cooking, makes the kitchen one of the most challenging rooms in the house for seniors to use. But it doesn’t have to be! Today there are a variety of simple, inexpensive solutions, along with some new senior-friendly appliances that can go a long way in making your kitchen safer and easier to maneuver.

Small Modifications
Let’s start with some simple solutions and inexpensive add-ons that can make a big difference. Consider these tips for the:

• Cabinets: Start by reorganizing your kitchen cabinets so that the items you frequently uses are within comfortable reach. You can also make your cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pull-out shelves or lazy susans, or for the hard-to-reach upper shelves, a pull-down shelving system (see rev-a-shelf.com). D-shaped pull-handles for the cabinets and drawers are also recommended because they’re more comfortable for arthritic hands to grasp than knobs.
• Lights: Aging eyes need more light, so install the highest wattage bulbs allowed in your light fixtures, and to brighten up your kitchen countertops add task lighting under the cabinets.
• Faucet: If you have twist handles on the faucet, replace them with easy-to-turn lever handles, or replace the entire fixture with an ADA compliant faucet with a single lever handle, or the new Delta touch technology faucet. And for safety purposes, set your hot water tank at 120 degrees to prevent water burns.
• Stove: If your vision is poor, clearly mark the controls on your stove or replace your dial controls with larger easier to read dials. And if memory is an issue, an automatic stove shut-off device (see cookstop.com, stoveguardintl.com and pioneeringtech.com) is a smart solution.
• Microwave: If your microwave is mounted above her stove, consider moving it to a countertop. It makes it safer and easier to reach.
• Other areas: If you have kitchen throw rugs, to reduce the possibility of tripping, secure them to the floor with double-sided rug tape or replace them with non-skid floor mats. If standing for long periods causes you problems, get a kitchen stool so you can sit down while you work. And to help with arthritic hands, invest in some OXO Good Grip or other ergonomic kitchen utensils.

User-Friendly Appliances
If you’re looking to buy some new appliances, manufacturers like General Electric, Whirlpool, Bosch and Siemens make a variety of products designed with seniors in mind. Here’s what to look for.

• Refrigerator/freezer: Side-by-side doors work well for seniors because the frequently used items (refrigerated and frozen) can be placed at mid-shelf range for easy access. Pull-out adjustable height shelves and water/ice dispenser on the outside of door are also very convenient.
• Dishwasher: Drawer designed dishwashers that slide in and out are very handy, and have it installed on a raised platform (6 to 10 inches) to eliminate bending over.
• Stove or cooktop: Look for one with the controls at the front so you won’t have to reach over hot burners to turn it off, and make sure the controls are easy to read and use. Flat surface burners or continuous grates on gas stoves are also great for sliding heavy pots and pans from one burner to the next. And ask about automatic shut off burners.
• Oven: Self-cleaning ovens are a plus, and consider a side-swing door model. They’re easier to get into because you don’t have to lean over a hot swing-down door. Also consider a wall-mounted oven, installed at your preferred height to eliminate bending.
• Washer and dryer: Front-load washers and dryers with pedestals that raise the height 10 to 15 inches are back-savers and easy to access.

Savvy Tip: For more kitchen modifications tips see www.homemods.org.