A customised kitchen for old aged homeowners has features to make life simple and safe.
Perhaps you live with your parents or foresee yourself moving in with them one day. Your kitchen, the hub of maximum activity in the day, needs to be a space where everyone can navigate their way safely. Remember not all kitchens are elder-friendly!
And while homeowners spend a lot of time researching the layout of kitchens, materials, finishes, and colours, they often tend to forget about small intricate details to make cooking an effortless exercise for the elderly. Senior citizens for one, will not be able to bend and reach out to things stored far out of normal reach.
However, minor adjustments can make life simpler and hassle free for your aging parents. We have compiled a list of kitchen design ideas and tips to make working in this zone safer and easier for old aged homeowners.
A Tall Unit In The Kitchen for elderly
A tall unit lets you store everyday commodities, canned foods and other items at easy reach. This is perfect for old aged homeowners as they can have a full glance of everything they need without scrambling for it. A unit can be designed with multiple drawers and shelves where you can store heavy portable appliances such as toasters, blenders, and mixers. Pocket door mechanism makes opening and closing easy as well and you can design it with adjustable shelves or a pull-out breakfast counter.
Good Lighting Is A Must In Kitchen For Seniors
The staircase and living room isn’t the only place where you need good lighting in your home. A dark kitchen is an invitation to home accidents, so adequate lighting is a must in your kitchen if you live with senior folk! Natural light is the best. So when you remodel your kitchen, make sure it’s designed with enough sunlight coming in. Install bright LED lights on the ceiling so the space is well lit. Also adding lights under wall cabinets will make working comfortable. Most importantly make sure light switches are installed at the entryway.
Slip Resistant Floors In The Kitchen For Elderly
A kitchen in a home with old aged homeowners needs a slip-resistant floor. There is no compromise on this as spills can lead to falls. Avoid covering your kitchen floor with carpets and rugs. Anti-skid flooring for senior citizens is a must as it offers a sturdy grip, non-slip tiles and land are easy to maintain. Another great option is cork-flooring. It is a great alternative to hardwood flooring, is fire and insect resistant and is easy on the feet. Other options include wood, vinyl or linoleum flooring. If you have a parent or grandparent confined to a wheelchair, hardwood flooring is a great choice as it is easy to roll.
Don’t Sink The Sink
Sinks play a vital role in the Modular kitchen and must not be neglected. Installing a sink too deep as it will have a massive impact on the back of your aged parent. Make sure all cleaning materials and equipment are nearby – sprays, scrubs, sponges – so there is less movement. Keep faucets within easy reach to make washing dishes and rinsing vegetables is a breeze If your kitchen has the option of running hot water, ensure it’s set to lukewarm and not blistering cold. And for those homeowners who do not want to replace the sink entirely you can raise the height. The market today has motorised, adjustable, counters/sinks available that make cooking and working hassle-free.
No Sharp Edges
Sharp edges are dangerous if you have elderly folk living at home. Avoid 90-degree angles on open shelves and countertops as there are high chances of elder folk hitting their elbow or hip on a sharp corner while walking. Round edges are softer and lessen the likelihood of bumps and bruises.
Countertops For Maneuverability
Remodelling an old kitchen to suit the needs of senior citizens also means you need to be mindful of accessibility. How about multiple countertops? In homes with joint families having a kitchen with large countertops makes working easy as there is no chance of bumping into each other.. Choose a surface with ease and use of maintenance in mind. Lowering the height from a standard 36 inches to 30 inches will make it easier for old aged homeowners confined to a wheelchair.
And you can see the best way to respect old aged homeowners is to customise your kitchen according to their likes, dislikes and specific needs. Design Cafe has an array of ideas and designs to help you achieve the perfect kitchen for senior citizens.
