Inexpensive Solutions for Improving Kitchen Accessibility

Accessible kitchens not only provide comfort but also instill dignity and empowerment to seniors. The kitchen is the heart of any residential space and it’s where memories are created, in addition to meeting the basic needs. That is why it is important for seniors to be able to safely and easily navigate through this space. In this post, we are going to cover a few inexpensive improvement solutions for home kitchens so that your elderly loved ones can continue to enjoy their independence.

Drawers and Cabinets

Having to crouch down at low cabinets to find a kitchen accessory can be hard for the elderly. You should make things easier by installing full-extension shelves and drawers so that the user can be able to pull the items towards them. Lower cabinets are an excellent option if the senior is using a wheelchair to navigate.

Cabinet Pulls

For an individual with limited manual dexterity, grabbing typical cabinet knobs can be hard. As a matter of fact, the ADA requirements state that pulls should be easy to open with a single hand and should not involve tight grasping, pinching or twisting the wrists. So, instead of giving the seniors a hard time with standard cabinet knobs, consider replacing them with U-shaped pulls that are easy to grab and use.

Working Area

If you are looking for cheap Houston assisted living solutions, you may not have a budget that can accommodate an entire makeover that ideally lowers the counters for the wheelchair users. However, do not fret as you can instead purchase a 30-inch high work table, which is just at the right height for the senior navigating in a wheelchair.

Vision

Vision problems are not uncommon for the older adults. Luckily, there are inexpensive solutions that can help with vision limitation. Adding a contrasting border that marks where the floor ends and the wall begins is an excellent idea. Change the paint color of the main workspaces and ensure it’s contrasting with the rest of the floor or wall.

For instance, put a red polish on the stove’s ‘off’ position so that a senior with limited vision can clearly tell whether the stove has been switched off. You should also use puffy paint for creating raised markings on settings that are usually used on appliances.

The Faucets

For a senior using a wheelchair, they will need to easily reach the faucet, so, again consider its position. You can do this without spending much by moving it near the edge of the counter by positioning it on the side of the sink. Of course, this may seem slightly unconventional, but the goal here is to make it more reachable for the elderly. You should also consider a touch or single lever faucet for easy use at the sink. Scalding can be avoided by installing temperature controls.

Organization

One of the best kitchen improvement solutions is arranging appliances in a manner that is ideal for the user. So, before you start to overhaul the kitchen, pay attention to how things are organized. Make an effort of putting frequently used appliances and culinary on the lower shelves.

If you need assistance, Assisting Hands of West Houston is happy to assist. To schedule a free consultation call us at 281.369.5858 or use the chat box on the right.