By Sandy Lindsey
Contributing writer
Ideally, creating a kitchen that allows you to age in place should start well before it’s needed. Consider incorporating key features whenever you’re doing renovations to your kitchen.
If you think that you might sell before retiring, remember that such features add overall value to the home, particularly as the U.S. population gets older. If your senior years have arrived or a renovation is not in the budget, there are plenty of helpful retrofits as well.
Tired hands will benefit from changing round faucet knobs to lever-style ones or, better yet, a single-handle or hands-free automatic anti-scald faucet. If you have a counter-mounted soap dispenser, add an extension tube to allow it to draw from a gallon bottle of soap under the counter, reducing the need for regular refills. This works for automated soap dispensers — another potential upgrade — as well.
Quick Fix
Replace any hard-to-grab small knobs, handles that are less than 3 inches wide, and cup pulls that don’t offer a good grip. Instead, opt for larger handles with ergonomic pulls — whether that’s a curved design, arched handles, or D-pulls. As a bonus, new hardware gives the room an instant, relatively inexpensive upgrade.
Cabinet Considerations
When doing a renovation, consider hanging cabinets 3 inches lower than usual for easier reach. You can also install pull-out shelves mounted on full-slide extensions to make the cabinet’s contents easily accessible. They’re particularly useful in those inconvenient “blind corner” lower cabinets, for trash bins under the sink, and for pull-out or swing-out pantry shelves.
For upper units, you can install pull-down shelf organizers such as spice racks. Pull-out drawers might suit better than cabinets in some spots. There are even under-counter pull-out drawer refrigerators for better access to the entire contents that can double as a drink station for the grandkids to keep them from constantly opening the main fridge.
Another built-in option is a toe-kick step stool, which folds out from beneath kitchen floor cabinets whenever extra height is needed. Install several around the room for easier upper cabinet access.
The Work Triangle
The sink, stove, and refrigerator are the three most important items in any kitchen and should be located near each other with unobstructed access. Still, if you’re frequently cooking large pots of pasta, you could install a pot filler above the stove to reduce muscle strain and the risk of spills.
Some seniors say they prefer a shallower 6-inch sink to eliminate excessive leaning. Others opt for an apron-front sink, which moves the sink closer to the counter edge, although they tend to be deeper, at 9 to 10 inches.
Although not part of the old-fashioned work triangle, the microwave’s location is important, too. Consider a below-the-counter model versus one located over the stove, which requires lifting hot items up, which is always a spill risk. Pull-out drawer microwaves offer full access to contents and are easier to open for those who have difficulty with regular microwave doors.
Those with balance issues can be accommodated by placing convenient grab rails around the sink and stove, while slip-resistant flooring benefits everyone. For a less intensive solution, slip-resistant anti-fatigue mats add extra cushion and grip to the floor, and water-absorbing mats or runners can be placed over non-slip pads in front of the sink and dishwasher. Remove any throw rugs, as they’re a trip hazard.
Height and Depth
Deep lower cabinetry is currently trending, but standard-depth cabinets at 24 inches may be the better option. They’re money savers, are more convenient to clean, and make it easier to reach items in their back corners. Standard cabinet height is 34 inches, making them 36 inches tall with a countertop. Lowering countertops to 29 to 30 inches, even in just a few sections, will accommodate wheelchair users.
Other safety tips include rounding countertop corners and other sharp edges, as well as eliminating decorative elements that create trip hazards, such as those all-too-common fancy turned legs on kitchen island seating areas.
Make sure there’s plenty of space to move around the kitchen. Although 36 inches is standard, the Americans with Disabilities Act recommends a minimum of 40 inches for galley or pass-through kitchens and 60 inches of unobstructed space in U-shaped kitchens to accommodate potential wheelchair use. This benefits anyone using walkers, too.
Add task lighting — brighter is safer — with readily accessible switches; rockers are easiest to use. An appliance garage keeps things readily available but neat. Keep the most-used items right at hand.
Assistance Appliances
A stove shutoff and a lightweight, senior-friendly fire extinguisher with an easy-pull pin or an aerosol-style model can significantly reduce the risk of kitchen fires.
Front-mounted stove knobs eliminate the dangers associated with reaching over hot burners and cooking foods to adjust stovetop temperatures. Ovens should ideally be situated 15 inches (range style) to 48 inches above the floor and take no more than 5 pounds of force to operate.
Shorter, one-hand-operation dishwashers work well with lower counters or can be installed under standard counters with an extra-tall kick plate that brings the bottom tray up for easier access. Countertop models are good for smaller daily loads.
Look for a refrigerator with long door handles with multiple gripping points. Large number displays, good interior lighting, large on-door storage, and slide-out shelves are also beneficial. Consider an in-door illuminated water and ice dispenser and a window or digital screen to easily view contents inside the refrigerator.
