Adapting Kitchens for the Elderly and People with Disabilities

Most caregivers and seniors can attest to the changes they have to make in their living space as people’s agility declines or disabilities arise. We all want to live independently, but sometimes our home can feel like a liability when it is not set up in a safe manner. Over the next few months, LTS is going to dedicate a number of blog posts to how we can make adjustments to the different rooms in homes or apartments – big or small – and how to make home feel more like home!

Kitchens can be a danger zone for people with vision loss, who are wheelchair bound, or have declining balance and strength. Here are a number of ways you can adapt kitchens for seniors. Maybe Lidia Bastianich or Martha Stewart could show us a few easy recipes in an adapted kitchen? PBS – we hope you are reading this!

Easy, cost-effective ways: Sometimes a few simple and inexpensive adjustments can significantly increase the safety level for both the elderly and caregivers.

·         Labels – Clearly label the cabinet doors or shelves to make things easy to find.

·         Placement – Make sure that commonly used items like drinking glasses, silverware, dishes, or pots are within reach.

·         Microwave – If you have a microwave above the stovetop, consider purchasing a new/used microwave to place on the counter to reduce stretching and having to carry heavy dishes.

·         Cabinet doors and drawers – Always keep these closed to avoid accidents, and paint or tape the edges with a contrasting color in case they are left open.

·         Remove lower cabinets – You may need to remove the cabinet below the sink or in other areas to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

·         Lighting under side cabinets – Purchase inexpensive touch lights to illuminate the countertops

·         Trays – Using contrasting colored trays under daily food items or cups can decrease the odds of a spill.

• Unplug stove – If you think the elderly person will not need the stove or oven, consider unplugging it to avoid accidents.

Re-building your kitchen: If you have the funds to adapt your existing kitchen, work with an architect and a long-term services and supports specialist to find the right tools and appliances for your unique needs. Here are some things to consider:

·         Pull down shelves – These are nifty shelves that move upward and downward using a hinge. They allow individuals to pull shelves closer to their points of view while also carrying the weight of the items on the shelves.

·         Countertop height – Depending on the individual, lowering a countertop’s height might make a world of difference for everyday tasks.

·         Side opening oven – Lifting a heavy oven door downward can be uncomfortable, difficult, and dangerous. A side door can eliminate all these hassles.

·         Pullout shelf below oven – Adding a shelf below the oven acts as placeholder for hot items. This way, you don’t have to lift hot items over to another counter.

·         Easy to use faucets– Hot, cold? Which way?! Install a new faucet that has clear red or blue marks to represent hot or cold water, and that has a simple handle with a gripper rather than difficult knobs.

·         Electrical outlets – Install outlets in convenient locations; consider adding contrasting outlet covers for visibility.

Let us know what challenges you’ve faced in the kitchen and how you’ve overcome them. We’ll be happy to update our blog with your tried and tested ideas!

Ideas for Caregiving: Incorporating Items from the Past

Recently, The Sun reported that the Bristol Royal Infirmary has created a ‘reminiscence’ room to treat patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. This really got us thinking! This idea is a great way to address some of the anxieties that people with Alzheimer’s experience. Many of these anxieties arise from disparities between the environment they are currently in and the environment they last remember being in. A lot of the time, people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias lose more recent memories first, so they remember their youth more easily as the disease progresses.

Incorporating items from the past into the room doesn’t just soothe anxieties; it offers an opportunity for people with Alzheimer’s to talk about memories associated with those items. It can create an environment conducive to conversation, and let you learn a little bit more about your loved one.

We understand that it might be challenging to remodel a whole room or other living space, but if you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, please do try to bring an item or two into a designated space or room to make this concept workable. At the worst, it will be ignored, and at the best, it could let you know more about your loved one and provide some relief from anxiety.

You can read The Sun article by clicking here.