Remodeling is all about making our houses better suited for us – perhaps one room, at one stage of life, more than others. As you move into your retirement years, it may no longer be as easy to reach for that pan or stand over that stove. If so, kitchen remodeling for your senior years is something you should consider.
Whether you’re heading a kitchen remodeling project for yourself or an elderly relative around Atlanta, here are four tips you should keep in mind.
Let there be better light
As senses and reflexes are dulled by age, a ceiling lamp and fantastic windows may cease to provide ample light. Consider installing smaller, focused lamps over the food preparation areas to better manage cutting, cooking, and cleaning.
Rethink that old cooktop
For elderly cooks, a carefully selected cooktop could spell the difference between burning dinner and a finger – or worse.
Do you think you’ll be better off with a gas cooktop or an electric one? An electric stove does not expose you to a burning flame or the smell of propane. It is also easier to clean than its gas counterpart. However, a gas stove offers more control over power and temperature. Depending on whether your sight is stronger than your senses of smell and touch, you might be better able to monitor a real flame. Either way, you should consider automatic shut-off options for both gas and electric cooktops.
You should also decide whether you will keep a cooktop with a 2×2 grid. Though you might have gotten used to this layout, new burners in a straight-row or a staggered arrangement can keep you from reaching out over boiling pots and open flames. Having cooktop controls in the front, rather than the side or back, will also prevent this.
Keep your feet on the ground
Your joints might not be creaking yet, but a slip-resistant floor goes a long way to keeping you safe in the kitchen. Matte-finished wood, soft-glazed ceramic, and textured vinyl are good options for preventing slips and falls. Floor rugs help, too; make shopping for them a fun part of remodeling.
Be kind to your body
In the kitchen, that doesn’t just mean whipping up nutritious meals. Remodel your cabinetry so you will no longer have to stretch, bend, or step on footstools to reach anything you need. It’s not that you don’t need the exercise – just that you don’t need the added risk of pulling a muscle or having plates fall on your head.
Have your kitchen remodeling contractor build cabinets at comfortable heights. Fit them with D-shaped handles (the best fit for arthritic hands!). Remember that pull-out shelves might be better than cabinets. Possibly even better: unearth utensils from deep drawers and transfer them to wall hooks.
Follow these tips and you’ll be able to manage your kitchen as gracefully as you will aging into your golden years.
Sources:
Making a kitchen safer, HGTV.com
How to make your kitchen easier and safer to use, HuffingtonPost.com
Elder-friendly: Kitchen design tips for senior citizens, LivSpace.com
