Kitchen Safety: Designing for Accessibility

It’s no secret that all of us age. And that’s okay! However as we get older, our houses ought to adapt to our altering wants if we wish the choice to stay in our houses as our bodily wants change.  Probably the most essential areas of change to deal with is the kitchen, our central hub for each day duties. Whether or not you’re planning forward to your golden years, or simply seeking to accommodate the wants of older members of the family, reworking your kitchen with accessibility in thoughts is a brilliant funding.  

On this weblog, we’ll discover the important thing issues to contemplate for such a transform, in addition to design rules for making a protected and accessible kitchen that enables you and yours to age in place! 

Why transform for accessibility?

Earlier than we dive into the transforming course of, it’s vital to know the importance of making an accessible kitchen. Ageing in place or dwelling independently in your house as you get older is a objective for many individuals. An accessible kitchen can play a pivotal position in attaining this goal for a number of causes: 

Security: The danger of accidents and accidents within the kitchen are already current however will increase as we age. An accessible kitchen minimizes hazards and offers a safer atmosphere. 
Independence: An accessible kitchen empowers owners to proceed making ready their meals, making independence and self-sufficiency a tangible idea. 
Consolation: Making the kitchen extra accessible ensures that it’s going to stay comfy and useful, permitting you to take pleasure in your house totally. 

Now, let’s discover some key parts to contemplate to your transform. 

Common Design Ideas 

Common design is an strategy to create areas and merchandise accessible to individuals of all ages and skills. Incorporating this into your transform could make it extra adaptable. Listed below are some ideas to remember. 

Vast doorways/hallways: Make sure that doorways and paths resulting in the kitchen are huge sufficient to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. 
Low-threshold entries: Reduce or get rid of (if attainable) any steps or thresholds at entry factors to the kitchen to stop tripping or falling. 
Adjustable counter tops: Contemplate counter tops that may be raised or lowered to accommodate numerous customers’ heights and wishes. 
Lever handles: Use lever-style door and tap handles, that are simpler to understand than conventional knobs and pulls. 
Open shelving: This permits for simpler entry to kitchen gadgets and reduces the necessity to bend or attain. 
Add a chair top pull-out board subsequent to the oven for straightforward switch of a scorching dish or to be used as a useful extra reducing/ work floor. 

Flooring and Lighting 

Non-slip flooring: Select flooring supplies that present traction and are slip resistant to scale back the danger of slips and falls. Keep away from small rugs or mats that may turn into tripping hazards. 
Sufficient lighting: Make sure that the area is properly lit, particularly in work areas. Process lighting is nice for illuminating particular work zones. 

Accessible Cupboards and Storage

Pull-out cabinets: Putting in these in decrease cupboards makes it simpler to achieve pots, pans, and different gadgets, decreasing the necessity to bend or stretch. 
Lazy Susans: A lazy Susan in nook cupboards offers easy accessibility to gadgets that may in any other case be difficult to achieve in deep cupboard recesses. 
Accessible heights: Hold your ceaselessly used gadgets at an accessible height, avoiding the necessity to use step stools or attain overhead. 

Home equipment and Fixtures 

Aspect-by-side fridge: Such a fridge permits simpler entry to each the freezer and fridge compartments, decreasing reaching and bending. 
Wall ovens: A wall oven positioned at a cushty top eliminates the necessity to bend down, inflicting potential for burns or harm. 
Induction cooktops: These are a protected possibility as a result of they solely heatd the cookware, not the encompassing floor. In addition they normally characteristic contact controls, which may be simpler for many who have points with dexterity. 
Touchless taps: These taps are handy and hygienic, decreasing the necessity to twist or flip handles. In addition they don’t should be cleaned as ceaselessly. 

Security Options 

Anti-scald units: These forestall burns from scorching water.  
Fireplace security: Make sure that smoke detectors and hearth extinguishers are readily accessible within the kitchen. 
Drawer/cupboard locks: If there are kids or grandchildren visiting, this stuff forestall entry to probably dangerous gadgets. 

Seating and Workspaces 

Multi-height counter tops: Incorporate counter tops at various heights, together with a seated workspace for many who choose to sit down whereas working. 

Ergonomic chairs: Select chairs that present ergonomic designs and correct lumbar assist for consolation. 

Open flooring plans: If attainable, design the area with an open kitchen structure to permit for ease of motion and suppleness within the area. Whether or not or not a wheelchair or walker are presently in use, it’s good to plan for a future attainable want. 

Seek the advice of with a Skilled 

Whereas these design rules are a place to begin, it’s important to work with an expert designer or remodeler skilled in kitchen design. They will help you create a personalized plan that takes your wants into consideration. 

Reworking your kitchen for accessibility isn’t just a sensible funding, however additionally it is a step in the direction of making certain your consolation, security, and independence as you age gracefully in place. By incorporating common design rules, addressing flooring and lighting, optimizing your storage, choosing the suitable home equipment, being acutely aware of security options, and creating comfy workspaces, you’ll be able to remodel your kitchen into an area that meets your evolving wants.  

With the precise design and modifications, your kitchen can proceed to be the center of your house for years to return, permitting you to benefit from the familiarity and luxury of your area. Name Kitchen Magic at (866) 525-0012 to learn the way we will help you obtain a kitchen that can age with you!