My spouse loves to cook but has experienced several kitchen-related accidents over the past year. We would like to modify the space to make it safer and more practical. What can you recommend to improve safety and ease of use in the kitchen?

There are several easy modifications and inexpensive additions that can transform your kitchen into a safer environment. Depending on your spouse’s needs, here are some suggestions for each aspect of the kitchen.

Floors: Replace kitchen throw rugs with non-skid floor mats or gel mats to reduce tripping or slipping. Gel mats are cushiony and comfortable to stand on for long periods of time.

Lights: Replace dim overhead lighting with bright new ceiling lights and add under-cabinet task lighting to brighten up kitchen countertops.

Cabinets and Drawers: To reduce unnecessary bending or reaching, organize your kitchen cabinets and drawers so that the items you most frequently use are within comfortable reach. In addition, you can make your cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pullout shelves or turntables. Finally, install D-shaped pull-handles on the cabinets and drawers as they are more comfortable for arthritic hands than knobs.

Faucet: If you have a twist-handle kitchen faucet, replace it with an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant single handle faucet. Single handle faucets are more user-friendly, particularly for those suffering from arthritis or reduced hand strength. There are also kitchen faucets that turn on and off by simply touching the base or moving your hand over a motion sensor. For safety purposes, set your hot water tank at 120 degrees to prevent possible water burns.

Microwave and Stove: If your microwave is mounted above the stove, consider moving it to a countertop. This makes it safer and easier to reach. If you are concerned about your spouse remembering to turn the stove off, automatic shut-off burners are designed to automatically shut off the stove if no motion is detected after a certain amount of time. 

Refrigerator and Freezer: Side-by-side refrigerator doors are ideal for seniors because they allow frequently used items to be stored at a comfortable mid-shelf height for easy access. Adding pull-out, adjustable-height shelves help customize storage to fit individual needs, while a water and ice dispenser on the outside of the door offers convenient access without having to open the refrigerator door.

Stove or Cooktop: Use a stove or range with controls in the front so your spouse will not have to reach over hot burners to turn it off. It is also safer to have burner controls with indicator lights to avoid accidentally leaving it on. Flat surface electric or induction burners, or continuous grates on gas stoves are also great for sliding heavy pots and pans from one burner to the next

Oven: Self-cleaning ovens are a great option. A side-swing door model can make access easier since you do not have to lean over a hot drop-down door. Also consider a wall-mounted oven, installed at your spouse’s preferred height to eliminate bending.

Dishwasher: A dishwasher drawer that slides in and out and is installed on a 6 to 10-inch raised platform can make loading and unloading dishes easier by reducing the need to bend.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.