Five Tips for Keeping Your Senior Safe in the Kitchen

Some people call the kitchen the heart of the home. It’s where meals are shared and memories are created. It’s a place where many people show how much they care for their family by providing everyone’s favorite meals or baking each family member’s birthday cake each year.

Unfortunately, kitchens can also pose a lot of danger, especially to some elderly individuals. What used to be a safe place full of joyful memories now can be a dangerous location with multiple opportunities for injuries both large and small.

Four Reasons Kitchens Can Be Dangerous for Seniors

While the kitchen doesn’t become dangerous for every elderly person, there are some key reasons why it can become more dangerous as your loved one ages.

• Less strength. If your loved one has lost some of the strength in her arms, she can easily injure herself by trying to pull down a heavy pot or appliance from a high shelf or on top of the refrigerator.
• Reduced dexterity. Arthritis symptoms can make it difficult for your loved one to use some kitchen utensils. She might struggle to hold a knife correctly or use a can opener.
• Poor vision. Bad eyesight can make distinguishing between similar-looking items like sugar and salt difficult or make it more difficult for her to see exactly where the knife is slicing a carrot and how close it is to her fingers.
• Cognitive issues. If your loved one has a progressive cognitive disease, she might forget how to safely use a blender, remember to turn off the oven when she’s done, or struggle to follow a recipe.

Luckily, there are steps you can take to keep your loved one safe in the kitchen so she can still continue to create memories and the meals that she loves.

Five Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors

Label Everything

To eliminate confusion and possible cooking disasters, make sure everything is clearly labeled for your loved one. Whether she struggles with vision issues or if cognitive concerns may make her more likely to choose an incorrect ingredient, clear labels can help prevent mistakes that might not only ruin her meal but might make her sick.

Clear Out Unused Items

Clutter can make it difficult for your loved one to find what she needs when preparing a meal. If her utensil drawer is packed with 30 utensils but she only uses five of them regularly, take out the others so that she can easily find what she needs when needed. Also, clear out cupboards, countertops, and other kitchen storage areas. Less clutter will also help her to focus better as she cooks.

Remove Distractions

Remind your loved one to turn off the TV or stay off the phone while cooking to help her focus on safety while using the kitchen.

Install Safety Devices

Stoves can have automatic turn-off devices installed and water heater temperatures can be reduced to eliminate the risk of scalding when washing dishes.

Get Some Help

If your loved one is struggling to use her kitchen safely, consider having homemaker services come to the home to help her in the kitchen. A homemaker services provider can either prepare the entire meal for her or step in and assist where your loved one needs it, like with chopping or mixing. If your loved one lives alone, having homemaker services also brings company to the kitchen, making cooking fun again.

If you or an aging loved one are considering homemaker services in Rye, NY, please contact the caring staff at Griswold Care Pairing for Scarsdale & Yonkers today. (914) 337-5028.