The kitchen is one of the busiest places in any home – but also one of the most dangerous. Along with bathrooms, kitchens represent some of the most significant health and injury hazards to seniors. At Visiting Angels, our in-home care professionals work with seniors to make kitchens safer. Over the years, we’ve developed a number of safety tips that can be used by seniors, their caregivers, and their loved ones to improve kitchen safety. Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care
“Preventing injury is one of the most important aspects of in-home care,” says Larry Meigs, CEO and President of Visiting Angels, a nationwide network of in-home care providers. “Simply put, safer kitchens make for safer seniors.” Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care
To improve the safety of your loved one’s kitchen, try out these tips and tricks for making kitchens in-home care friendly.
Quick Tips for In-Home Care Providers
There are a number of day-to-day things that can be done to improve kitchen safety for seniors. These tips can be used by you, your loved one, or your loved one’s professional in-home care provider. Remember that bad habits are hard to break, and it can be easy for your loved one to forget these important safety tips. As such, it may be best if you or a care professional is with your loved one during cooking or meal preparation.
- Keep all cupboards and drawers closed when not in use
- Store heavier pots, pans, dishware, and appliances in easy-to-reach areas
- Keep knives and other sharp implements in a secure place
- Unplug any electrical appliances when not in use
- Have a step-ladder handy for hard-to-reach shelves
- Always keep countertops free of clutter
- Make sure that pot and pan handles don’t overhang the edge of the stovetop
- Never wear loose clothing when cooking over the stovetop
- Keep oven mitts available
- Quickly clean up any spills
- Remove tripping hazards including throw rugs
- Keep a first aid kit easily available
Senior-Friendly Kitchen Reno
Making your loved one’s kitchen more senior care friendly may require renovation work. Thankfully, kitchen renovations offer the best return-on-investment out of all home improvement projects. Because of this, adapting your loved one’s kitchen for in-home care and age-related difficulties can actually improve the value of your loved one’s home.
Here are some kitchen improvement projects that will make in-home care and everyday living safer for your loved one:
- Install high-quality lighting to improve visibility
- Make sure the stove has a well-functioning range hood
- Install high-traction, non-slip tile
- Turn low-level cabinets into pull-out drawers
- Install a lever-style faucet
Of course, the best way to keep seniors safe in the kitchen is to have a second set of eyes, ears, and hands to detect potential dangers and help your loved one with difficult tasks. You may be able to fill this role yourself – or you may wish for the help of an in-home care professional. If so, Visiting Angels can help.
Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care
Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care