Kitchen

Simple Technology Suggestions

Kettle - most kettles are now sold with automatic cut off switches that prevent the kettle from boiling dry. Some kettles have the added safety feature of not being able to switch on unless the minimum required water has been added. Retractable or spiral safety cords also reduce the risk of appliance cords on a bench top getting in the way.

A Shallow Depth Fridge may make finding contents in the fridge easier.

Oven Guard - this is a protective cover placed over the oven door to act as a heat barrier and prevent contact burns. These covers can be attached to the oven door with magnets or Velcro and are constructed from fire resistant material.

A Lockable Cabinet that can be mounted on the wall or placed inside a cupboard out of view is useful for storing household cleaning products that are poisonous. These cabinets can be purchased from most larger hardware outlets or homeware stores.

Circuit Breakers provide short circuit and over-current protection when a power point is overloaded. Safety switches monitor the flow of electricity through a circuit and detect a problem which may pose a risk to personal safety and turn the power off. It is worthwhile to review whether your home has these already installed. If not, your local energy supplier may be able to assist.

Appliance Locks can be used on a microwave oven, refrigerator, oven, or other household appliances. These can be self installed. The locks can be useful if there is a concern that the person with dementia is not able to use household items safely. These products can be purchased from hardware stores or stores where children’s safety products are sold.

Velcro Strips which are double sided and adhesive may be successful in securing appliance doors. For the best results the Velcro should be the same, or similar, colour as the product so that it blends in. If possible, place the Velcro discreetly to reduce its visibility to the person with dementia.

‘Mag Lock’ - this discreet magnetic lock system can be used on drawers and cupboards in the kitchen, or anywhere in the home. It was designed to be invisible, with the locking component fitted to the inside of the cupboard or drawer, while the magnetic key operates the lock from outside the drawer. It can be installed on wood, plastics, laminates and ceramic tiles and does not draw attention to the fact that the cupboard is locked.

Plug-In Gas Alarms plug directly into the power point and detect escaping gas or unignited gas. The detectors emit an alarm to alert the householder. There are both LPG and Natural Gas alarms available for purchase with specific instructions for placement of the alarm based on the type of gas in your home.