Kitchen Confidential: 10 Ways to Promote Aging in Place

Maybe you’ve found the house you want to grow old in. Perhaps you foresee your elderly parents moving in with you one day. Or maybe you require wheelchair accessibility. When you’re designing a kitchen with these needs in mind, the following 10 tips will help make it safer and easier to navigate.
Traditional Kitchen by BMLMedia.ie
BMLMedia.ie
1. Install a pullout pantry.Because it lets you see everything at a glance without having to shuffle items around, homeowners of all ages will find a pullout pantry useful. But besides being convenient, drawers that give you easy access to your canned goods and cereal boxes also put less strain on your back and knees.
Traditional Kitchen by NEAT Method Michigan
NEAT Method Michigan

You can even use the pullouts to store heavy portable appliances, such as blenders, slow cookers and toasters.

Modern Kitchen by The Sky is the Limit Design
The Sky is the Limit Design
2. Round the edges. Avoid 90-degree angles on countertops and open shelves. The last thing you want is to hit your hip or elbow on a sharp corner as you’re maneuvering in your kitchen. Round edges lessen the likelihood of bumps and bruises.
Contemporary Kitchen by Adrienne DeRosa
Adrienne DeRosa

3. Keep the sink close to the stove. As we age, it’s harder on our arms and backs to carry big pots full of water to and from the cooktop. If any spills on the way, it becomes a slipping hazard.

You may be tempted to put your sink next to your stove, but be sure to leave workspace in between. It defeats the purpose if you’re forced to hold a pot longer than is comfortable because you can’t find a place to set it down.

Beach Style Kitchen by Southern Living
Southern Living
Where it isn’t possible to have the sink on the same side as the stove (or if the layout won’t work for the way you cook), there’s another option. Place the sink across from the stove, and you’re only 180 degrees and a step or two away. This works well in galley-style kitchens.
Transitional Kitchen by FabCab
FabCab
4. Opt for a shallow sink. While we’re on the subject of sinks, buy one that isn’t too deep (preferably only 6 to 8 inches). It’s much easier to rinse vegetables and dishes in a shallow sink bowl.
Traditional Kitchen by Hermitage Kitchen Design Gallery
Hermitage Kitchen Design Gallery

5. Place the microwave at or below counter height. Whether your microwave is free-standing or built in, having it at counter height is best for your back since it minimizes bending and reaching above your shoulders.
Transitional Kitchen by Sean Litchfield Photography
Sean Litchfield Photography
If you don’t want to sacrifice counter space, the next best solution is to tuck the microwave under the counter. Why? For starters, it’s easier to set a heavy plate down below you than it is to lift it above your shoulders. And since spills are more likely when you have to reach up to remove hot food or liquid, having the microwave under the counter also prevents burns.
Modern Kitchen by Yorkville Design Centre
Yorkville Design Centre
6. Choose standard counter-depth appliances and cabinets without any frills. Designing an age-proof kitchen isn’t the time to get fancy with decorative legs, ornate refrigerator panels or angled counters. Though these eye-catchers add personality, they can transform your space into an obstacle course. You’re more prone to bump your knees, legs and hips on appliances and cabinetry details that jut out from the counter.
Contemporary Kitchen Contemporary Kitchen

7. Make corners accessible.Blind corner cabinets won’t cut it. Yes, they provide ample storage space, but too often they turn into unofficial junk bins when you tire of getting on all fours to fetch the dish you need. Performing that bend-reach-lift motion also isn’t good for aging backs.

Look for corner cabinet bases that effectively eliminate the need for rummaging and reaching. They aren’t all the same, though. You have options, be it a convenient three-drawer base (left) or a traditional Lazy Susan.

Contemporary Kitchen by Andre Rothblatt Architecture
Andre Rothblatt Architecture
You can also get corner cabinet organizers with kidney-shaped, half-moon and other creative sliding shelves.
Modern by Lane Homes & Remodeling Inc.
Lane Homes & Remodeling Inc.
Don’t limit accessible corners to your lower cabinets. This easy-to-reach upper cabinet opens like an accordion and doesn’t waste any storage space.
Modern by Cabinet Innovations
Cabinet Innovations

8. Pick drawers, not doors. The best part about drawers is that they display all your flatware and utensils at once, which allows for easy grabbing. You don’t have to get on your knees and peer into the back of the cabinet to see what’s available.

Large drawers don’t skimp on storage space. Any set wider than 30 inches can stow plenty of pots and pans.

Contemporary Kitchen by Dane Cronin Photography
Dane Cronin Photography

9. Focus on clearance space. The standard clearance between cabinets, walls and appliances is 36 inches, which is enough room to comfortably pass in a walkway and have access to drawers and doors.

However, if you want a kitchen that can accommodate a wheelchair, you can use Americans With Disabilities Act guidelines as a reference point for your design.

Contemporary Kitchen by Lee Kimball
Lee Kimball
For U-shaped kitchens, ADA guidelines require at least 60 inches of clearance between opposing cabinets, walls or appliances.
Contemporary Kitchen by Christina Karras
Christina Karras
Galley or “pass through” kitchens should have at least 40 inches of clearance between opposing surfaces, according to ADA guidelines.
Contemporary Kitchen by Creative Design Construction, Inc.
Creative Design Construction, Inc.

10. Ensure that floors are slip-resistant. Materials that don’t get slick reduce the chances of falling when there’s a spill.

Floor tile should have enough grout and texture to grip your feet. Porcelain tile absorbs less moisture than ceramic tile or other flooring types; it’s also easy to maintain and clean.

Vinyl flooring can offer good slip resistance too, and it’s softer on your feet.

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