The kitchen can be a high-risk area for elderly people, especially ones with dementia or a chronic injury or illness.
If your loved one is living in your home, there are some crucial steps you must take to manage the risk of a fall in the kitchen.
Even a minor fall or accident could cause major health complications. Here are the most important kitchen design tips that will make the room safer for a senior with cognitive or mobility issues.
Schedule a Home Safety Evaluation
A home safety evaluation is one of the best ways to prevent a fall at home.
Your evaluator will inspect all areas of the home, inside and out, focusing on high-risk areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and stairways.
They will give you a report detailing their findings, including recommendations for repairs and improvements that you can make that will enhance the safety and comfort of the home.
It’s very helpful to get expert insight, as they can uncover hidden dangers that you were not even aware of.
Repair Flooring and Clear Pathways
If any areas of the kitchen flooring are loose, cracked, or chipped, they could increase the risk of a fall, especially for someone using a mobility aid like a walker.
Repair flooring tiles or sand away damage to wood flooring to reduce the risk of an accident.
Flooring that gets slippery when wet is also a risk. You can install low-profile, nonslip mats in high-traffic areas, such as in front of the sink and dishwasher.
Make sure all pathways around the kitchen are clear and free from clutter and obstructions.
Find solutions for wires or cords that are on the floor, and make sure there is enough clearance for a person to walk comfortably all around the kitchen.
The clearance between countertops, the kitchen island, the kitchen table, and any other obstructions should also allow for the safe use of a mobility aid if necessary.
Improve Lighting
Poor lighting in the kitchen can increase the risk that your loved one cuts themselves, trips and falls, suffers from a cooking burn, or has another accident.
Supplement natural lighting with motion-sensor or smart lighting or a lighting control system.
Use under-cabinet lighting to illuminate countertops and adjustable task lighting to enhance brightness in food prep and dining areas.
Install a motion- or voice-activated light to ensure your loved one doesn’t have to fumble for a light switch if they enter the kitchen at night.
Adjust Counter Height and Rearrange Cabinets, Drawers, and Shelves
If your loved one uses a wheelchair, consider adjusting the height of counters and other food prep areas.
If they need to stretch or reach to prepare food or get supplies that they need, they are at a greater risk of a fall or injury.
Also consider rearranging cabinets, drawers, and shelves. It should be easy for your loved one to find items that they use each day without having to stand on a step stool or chair.
Store Dangerous Items Out of Reach
If your loved one’s dementia has progressed to the point that they no longer prepare their own meals or are responsible for administering medication themselves, make sure anything dangerous is stored out of reach.
Put medications in a locked cabinet, and store any dangerous chemicals and cleaning supplies somewhere out of reach.
Make sure that dangerous utensils like knives are kept in a place your loved one can’t access.
Install Kitchen Safety Devices
For people with dementia or who are visually or hearing impaired, kitchen safety devices are crucial.
Stove guards can prevent your loved one from touching hot burners or pulling down pans.
Knob locks can prevent them from turning the stove or oven on or off. A smoke, fire, and natural gas and carbon monoxide detector can provide life-saving warning in the event of an emergency.
You can also install cabinet locks or child safety devices on cabinets and other areas of the kitchen that hold dangerous items.
Use Labels and Large Font Designs
Even elderly people who don’t have dementia can develop memory problems. Label cabinets, drawers, and containers so that items are easy to find.
If you take something out of its original packaging and put it in another container, create a label that describes the contents, expiration date, and any key storage and preparation instructions.
If possible, replace standard appliances with ones that have simple controls, such as large buttons that are easy to operate.
Opt for large font sizes as well so that control panels, clocks, and other electronic screens are easier to read.
Choose Colors, Patterns, and Designs Wisely
Busy patterns and designs can make it harder to see and more difficult to find things in the kitchen.
A complex flooring pattern can create an optical illusion that makes it harder to walk.
Whenever possible, choose contrasting colors for the counters, cabinets, and floors to differentiate between areas and improve depth perception.
Get Rid of Sharp Edges
If the kitchen table, countertop, and other furniture and fixtures have sharp edges, use foam edge protectors, corner protector guards, or other safety devices to make them more rounded.
Falling against or bumping up against a sharp edge can cause injury, especially for elderly people who have thinner skin.
Integrate Smart Home Devices
Elderly people with mobility issues may find it hard to reach for light switches, cords for window blinds, thermostat panels, and other important devices and appliances in the kitchen.
Smart home devices can make the kitchen safer, more comfortable, and more accessible.
A voice-activated assistant can help your loved one look up recipes, set timers, get food safety information, make shopping lists, and more.
A smart home system can give them full control over their environment, allowing them to raise and lower window shades, turn appliances on and off, and control lights and sound systems.
Use a Baby Gate or Dog Gate
If your loved one has a dog or cat that could pose a trip hazard while they’re in the kitchen, use a baby gate or dog gate to keep pets out of the area.
Alternatively, if your loved one’s dementia has progressed to the point where the kitchen is an unsafe area for them entirely, install a kitchen door with a lock to keep them from entering when you’re not at home.
Hire an In-Home Caregiver
It’s possible that your loved one will eventually need more help than you can provide.
If you regularly need to leave home to work or take care of household errands, Placita In Home Care can offer daily scheduled care or respite care services.
If you hire one of our home caregivers, your loved one can stay in their home rather than moving into an assisted living facility.
Our senior care specialists can provide mobility assistance, help with the activities of daily living, and make sure your loved one follows their medication schedule and eats properly.
They can also assist with household chores and provide transportation. If your loved one has dementia, they can offer skilled memory care to reduce the risk of accidents or wandering.
To schedule a consultation for in-home care in the Tucson or Phoenix metro area, call us today or fill out our contact form online.