Kitchen Modifications for Safer, Easier Daily Living
Kitchen Modifications for Safer, Easier Daily Living
Cooking is one of the most meaningful daily activities, and one of the first to feel unsafe. The right home modifications keep people cooking for themselves.
What are kitchen modifications?
Bring the kitchen to the person
Move the daily items to waist height
The plates, mugs, pans, and foods used every day belong between hip and shoulder height. No step stools, no deep bending. This costs nothing and prevents the most common kitchen falls.
Create a seated prep spot
A sturdy chair or stool at the table or a lowered counter section lets someone chop, mix, and assemble without standing the whole time. Slide heavy items along the counter instead of carrying them.
Make storage reachable
Pull-out shelves in lower cabinets and pull-down shelving in upper cabinets bring the contents to the person instead of the person climbing to the contents.
Swap grip-heavy hardware and tools
Lever faucets, lever or D-shaped handles, electric jar openers, and built-up utensils keep arthritis and weakness from ending independent cooking.
Add stove safety for peace of mind
An automatic stove shut-off device removes the burnt-pot risk for anyone with memory changes, and for the rest of us too.
Kitchen products our OTs recommend
From $15 adaptive tools to installed shelving systems.
Planning an accessible kitchen remodel?
Lowered counters, accessible sinks, and cabinet conversions are contractor projects. AskSAMIE connects you with vetted contractors through our partnership with VGM Live at Home, free.