What Can You Do in Your Loved One's Kitchen to Make it More User-friendly?
Elderly Care in Rockford MI: What Can You Do in Your Loved One’s Kitchen to Make it More User-friendly?
Having a user-friendly kitchen can help your loved one to feel confident and safe in the kitchen. From an independence standpoint, her confidence levels need to stay high. From your point of view, however, her safety is the most important aspect.
Relocate Commonly-used Items to Lower Cabinets
The thing about kitchens is that a lot of the available storage is above waist height. This can put your loved one off balance or, even worse, cause her to drag out a step stool or a stepladder in order to get the item that she needs. By moving items that your loved one uses often into lower cabinets, you enable her to get to those items much more easily.
Use Contrasting Colors
Many people like a bright kitchen with lots of colors and that can be a good thing, especially if your loved one’s vision is not as good as it once was. Bright, contrasting colors allow your loved one to see the edges of items and counters, making it safer for her to do whatever she wants to do in that room.
Reconsider the Flooring
The flooring in your loved one’s kitchen can make a big difference in terms of safety, too. Floors that are slippery or that have been waxed often over the years can be extremely dangerous. Your loved one is much better off with a duller floor that isn’t waxed. All flooring can be slippery, though, so double check it regularly.
Choose Assistive Devices
There are all sorts of assistive devices that can help your loved one while she’s in the kitchen. Some, such as flashing alerts, are great if your loved one has hearing difficulties while others allow your loved one to hear audible sounds and alerts when something needs attention. Using a walker in the kitchen can help your loved one to stay stable, especially if she has a difficult time standing for longer than a few moments at a time.
If your loved one is using her kitchen less often than she used to, having it organized and safe is still important. Elderly care providers will find it easier to get around when they’re helping your loved one, for example.
If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care in Rockford, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
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