Aging in Place Kitchen Solutions

Like it or not, we are all getting older. Someone once said “Life is like a roll of toilet paper-the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.” Today a baby boomer is turning 65 every 7 seconds. People are living independently longer than ever and it’s important that they have the solutions to help them maintain their independence while remaining safe. Today we are going to explore some helpful kitchen solutions for us as we age.

-Lighting: We need 3 times the amount of light at age 60 than we did at age 20 to complete the same task. Add undercabinet lighting, remove the old florescent light and add better lighting with recessed cans, even consider adding lighting inside your cabinet to help you see the contents better.

-Walk space-you want to maintain at least 34” of clear walk space to allow for a wheelchair of walker if that time ever comes.

-Drawers & pulls outs-include or retrofit existing cabinets to include all pulls outs in base and tall cabinets. It makes accessing the items so much easier.

-Pulls-use a handle or pull on cabinet doors instead of knobs. They are easier for arthritic hands to grasp.

These are just a few of the things that most commonly need addressing when considering aging in place. Take the time to consider the future and your family when you are considering building or remodeling. Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions regarding aging in place solutions.