Kitchens are pivotal to every home for numerous reasons, so you'll naturally want to make accessible to everyone in your home –– including your elderly parents. Planning the space for retired seniors requires you to put careful thought into your kitchen renovation designs because you probably want to make it seamless for your parents to use. Here are some nifty strategies for introducing elder-friendly kitchens.
Choose Slip-Resistant Flooring
While you probably don't pay much attention to this factor for yourself, keep in mind that your elderly parents are more prone to losing their balance and could injure themselves severely, so make sure you choose slip-resistant flooring in the kitchen. You should ideally also get slightly textured floors to provide your parents with a stable grip of the floor, which will reduce the risk of falling. Good slip-resistant flooring options for kitchens include textured ceramic tiles, timber, cork and vinyl. Keep in mind that laminate floors tend to be smooth and may not always be the best flooring choice for elder-friendly kitchens.
Reduce Cabinet Height
While you probably have no problem stretching or standing on a small stool to get to the top of your cabinets, keep in mind that your elderly parents will struggle to do the same thing. Instead, you may want to consider lowering the cabinets to a comfortable height, allowing your parents to easily access them without your intervention.
Introduce Seating Spaces
While your parents probably want to make themselves useful in the kitchen to avoid boredom, keep in mind that they may not have the same energy as before. Introducing seating around your kitchen island or benchtop is a great way to allow your parents to help you without tiring them out too much. You can work with the kitchen renovation experts to make sure there is enough space in your kitchen to introduce seating for your parents.
Lighting Is Critical For Safety
While bright lighting is good to have in any kitchen, it is especially important when your elderly parents live with you. Your parents probably don't have the same eyesight level as before, so you'll want to ensure that you have adequate lighting to ensure that no accidents take place when your parents use knives to cut and prepare food. Bright lighting will also ensure that they don't bump into any sharp objects along the way. Make sure you set up specific task lights over food preparation areas and near appliances to ensure the safety of your elderly parents.
Follow these nifty strategies for introducing elder-friendly kitchens in your home.
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