Safe kitchen layouts

The kitchen design for a senior citizen can be fun and creative while maintaining kitchen safety measures! The most important things to watch for come down to the details. Your preferences matter. Whether you’re searching for a home on the market or looking for a customized new construction, you can and should adjust anything in your home to suit your needs. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Isn’t that comforting?

Seniors’ common home injuries

The ill-prepared kitchen could pose some serious threats to independent senior living. It’s important to build your home according to your preference, but with preventative measures in mind. The most common injuries include: 

• Falls
• Burns
• Hip/bone dislocation
• Back pain
• Arthritis/joint pain

Let’s dive into the best kitchen safety tips to lessen the chances of these injuries!

Senior-friendly kitchen design tips

1. Light up drawers

Whether it’s dark or light in the room, lit drawers help you see what you need so you can pop back up faster. You can have these lights pre-installed in your drawers, or you can shop around for attached lights. The top recommended type for seniors are the sensor lights that turn on and shut off as the drawer opens and closes. 

2. Drawers instead of cabinets

As you age, bending down may become more of a chore. Bending at the knee or kneeling on the floor to reach something at the back of the cabinet may not be an option after a certain point. Installing drawers under the countertops is a senior kitchen design tip that will make storage safer and more readily accessible. Instead of reaching toward the back, you can simply pull the back of the drawer closer to you. If you add organizers to the drawers for things like dishes and cleaning supplies, you’ll be able to reach for any and everything you need in no time!

3. Heavy things at lower levels

Instead of placing pots, pans, and easily breakable items above the head, a primary kitchen safety measure is to place those types of items in a lower cabinet. This reduces fatalities like shattered glass or porcelain, pulled muscles, and even dislocated or broken limbs. 

4. Smart cabinet inserts

Drawers might not be the best option for above-head storage, but neither are climbing ladders and straining to get to the top shelf. Smart inserts for the cabinet are essentially mobile shelves. Depending on the kind you get, you’ll be able to pull a lever that lowers the shelf to your level safely, and when you’re done, you can push it back up and it will lock back into place at a safe speed. It’s relatively simple, yet revolutionary technology. 

5. Extra-large, de-shaped handles

If you struggle with arthritis or joint pain, fancy becomes less important. Plain, large handles on your cabinets, fridge, microwave, and everywhere else will help reduce the strain your joints have to experience. Luckily, Del Webb Active Adult Communities have plenty of high-quality customization options, so you won’t have to sacrifice a premium design for comfort. 

6. Air fryers and lowered microwaves

Burn injuries are the second most common injuries among American communities over 55. They can turn fatal quickly. Air fryers are an excellent way to reduce interaction with the oven! Most brands’ interior racks, including the Instant Air fryer, have cooling technology that keeps the food warm while dropping the racks’ temperature to room temperature within 30 to 60 seconds of being outside of the Air fryer. The best part? You can make traditional meals that would take anywhere from 30 minutes to hours to make in the oven in a fraction of the time. There are few things that take longer than 25 minutes to make in an air fryer, with the overall average cook time taking 10 minutes. 

If you’re not big on cooking or if you like to batch your meals, Del Webb 55+ community homes come with lowered microwaves for an added layer of kitchen safety measures. Reheat risk-free!

7. Simplify the sink

Sink customizations make a significant difference within active adult communities, especially if you’re experiencing discomfort in your joints. Seniors report preferring one lever on their faucet that controls all temperatures and water volume. They offer more mobility options in simpler movements. 

Having a pulldown faucet, otherwise known as a gooseneck, also makes cleaning, a breeze! Instead of lifting dishes to the water, you’ll be able to bring the water to the dishes!

8. Rounded edges

There is no feeling like stubbing your toe on the corner of the furniture. Momentarily, the pain seems to intensify, and time freezes as you wait for the end. With age, your other joints begin relating to your toe. The sharp edges of a countertop can cause an inconvenient pain to your hip or end in a more serious injury. As simple as it may seem, rounding the edges of your cabinets, countertops, walls, and corners of all kinds could save more than your toes. It could save your life. 

To learn more about making the most of your retirement years, click here and stay in touch!

Contributed to The 55+ Society

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