Making Your Kitchen Function for You
Having a Kitchen That Allows You to Live Independently and Safely is a Concern
Trying to prepare for the changes that may accompany us as we grow older can be challenging. Many times you may ask yourself, are the appliances and storage within reach? Is there enough light to take care of the tasks? Is there a safe place to sit while you prepare food? Is there easy access to storage, appliances and work surfaces? Is the room wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers if needed at a later date?
Careful planning before making changes is critical. Undertaking a needs analysis to examine your existing space for functionality and aesthetics is essential.
Imagine how you will utilize the room. Start with a floor plan in developing your space. Make sure there is a cooking triangle encompassing the sink area, cooking area, and refrigerator. These are the areas most heavily used. Insure there is a sufficient counter top adjacent to each of these areas for safe placement and removal of items from cook top, oven, microwave, sink and refrigerator. You need a minimum of two linear feet for placement of dishes, casserole dishes and other items. Without adequate adjacent space, accidents can happen. For example, turning around to place a hot pot, a wet dish or milk carton on a counter behind you can cause you to lose your balance and fall.
Safe storage should be developed as a next step. Make sure dishes are stored adjacent to the sink and dishwasher, pots and pans placed next to or under a cook top and pantry space near the refrigerator. You should use roll-out shelves, full extension glides and soft close drawers for easy reach and convenient use. Items should be stored in such a way as to prevent you from reaching too high or too low frequently which can cause you to lose your balance.
Create a space where you can sit while preparing food or eating a meal. When selecting kitchen counter tops select easy to maintain surfaces such as quartz, quartzite, or granite materials. Marble easily stains and is not clean-friendly. Make sure the edges are rounded on the corner to avoid injury to a hip or a grandchild's eye.
Lighting is another important consideration. As we grow older, it becomes increasingly more difficult to see. Give careful consideration to proper placement of lighting and lighting fixtures to minimize the risk of eye strain. Under cabinet lighting gives the greatest illumination for counter tops. Choose LED lights as they have the longest usage life and are the closest to daylight in coloration. Electrical outlet placements should follow your city or village codes, but you should always use ground fault interrupters (GFCIs) which can prevent electrocution.
When specifying attractive flooring, think about hardwood, bamboo, or vinyl, which is easier on your spine. Porcelain, ceramic, and stone floors are beautiful, but your back and legs can tire quickly. Hardwood, bamboo, and vinyl can also be easily repaired or replaced if damaged.
In conclusion, when planning your kitchen, consider your floor plan, storage needs, materials, and lighting to achieve the space of your dreams that you will enjoy for many years to come.
- Leslie Markman-Stern, ASID, has a full-service commercial and residential interior design firm, Leslie M. Stern Design, with a long history of working with seniors and those who have special needs. Her firm offers a holistic approach to creating a safety-conscious, functional, and beautiful environment so older adults and those who have special challenges can live independently and safely at home. Thought is also given to creating a resalable product for the future.
