Kitchen Renovations to Enhance your Senior’s Safety

The kitchen is most likely a central room in your aging parent’s Asheville home. It is where they prepare meals and often where some socialization occurs.  Ensuring that their kitchen meets their needs and everything is easily accessible is important to safety as they age. Trying to reach things on cluttered or high shelves or having to navigate tricky handles can be frustrating and dangerous. Making a few modifications to your senior’s kitchen can allow them to age in place more comfortably and safely. While some are relatively simple and cheap fixes, others require a little more planning.

Clear counter space so that they have plenty of room to work. This will allow them to keep necessary items close by as they prepare their meal, and they don’t have to constantly be trying to move things out of the way. Consider lining the edge of the counter with contrasting tape so that is more easily visible as they work.

Use non-slip flooring to help prevent falls. Traction is important, especially if your loved one has some balance or mobility issues. If there are rugs in the kitchen, make sure they are held securely in place and the edges are not rolled up where they can be tripped over.

Replace cabinet and drawer knobs with easier to pull handles. This reduces the need to try to grip something small in order to open the cabinet or drawer. Pull handles can be much easier to use and make things more convenient for those with arthritis. 

Install slide-out shelves or lazy Susans in cabinets so the contents are easier to reach. Your senior won’t have to try to dig to the back to find what they need. Pull-down shelving can make accessing cabinets more convenient as well. You don’t want your loved one to have to stretch and reach too much.

Side-by-side refrigerator and freezers mean less bending and stooping. More products can be kept in easy-to-reach locations. Also consider appliances that have larger displays that are easier to see and read. Bigger buttons and knobs can be simpler to navigate.

Increased lighting can also improve safety by making everything more visible. This can be valuable especially if their vision has deteriorated. Using contrasting colors for different objects can be beneficial as well. This makes them easier to pick out so they don’t blend into the background.

There are many other modifications such as pull-out counter space and raised or lowered cabinets as well if you are looking to make more extensive renovations. Planning ahead can allow you to make changes over time and better prepare for when they are needed. If your senior needs help around their Hendersonville home, in-home care through Always Best Care may be just what you are looking for. From help with planning and preparing meals to clean-up and organization, a caregiver can assist with these tasks and so much more. Support your aging parent in maintaining their independence as they age in place with high quality elder care from Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville. Call us today at (828) 989-7263 or visit www.alwaysbestcareWNC.com for your free consultation.