Click here to see the technology in this area of the BCS Age Friendly Home
In many homes, kitchens are a place for entertaining family and friends. A kitchen can be a place of great joy for many older residents, proving their independence and allowing some meaningful contribution to the household. It must however be safe and functional – many older kitchens are not either of these. The philosophy driving the kitchen renovation was safety and independence.
Common dementia related issues in the kitchen may include difficulties with using appliances, finding things, meal preparation and safety – electrical, gas, water, fire, chemicals. Appliances used in the kitchen, such as the stove, toaster and microwave oven, have the potential to cause harm if not used in the manner intended. Serious injury or death can occur as a result of electrocution or fire. Cleaning products and some food products can also be hazardous.
The kitchen of the home was completely gutted and the configuration changed to allow compliance with senior living planning policies for circulation space. The design was based on age friendly, dementia and mobility criteria, attempting to demonstrate a little of each.
Note the following Environmental features in this kitchen:
- flooring
- cues
- D shaped handles (eg drawer handle)
- age friendly power points
- contrast and camouflage to highlight and disguise
- appliance selection
Flooring
The vinyl selected for the kitchen is a Forbo Safestep, selected for its non-slip properties and its durability.
Cues
Signs on cupboards and labels on containers, use of clear storage containers, open shelving and glass front cupboards (or removed cupboard doors) can help a person locate items without having to rely on memory
The overhead cupboards were designed with glass doors to provide people with dementia clear vision of where everyday things are kept. Solid doors were used to disguise other cupboards.
One of the overhead cupboards is movable, it can electronically move forward and down, up to 400mm, to meet the user
The bench which includes the sink can move up and down, electronically, to allow seated and standing residents to use the kitchen comfortably.
D Shaped Handles
All drawers and cupboards are fitted with‘d’ pull handles that are easy to grasp for older residents whose hands may not be quite so flexible and troubled by arthritis.
Appliance Selection
Appliance selection includes a two plate cook top, an oven at bench height and a small refrigerator with a ‘d’ pull style handle and a freezer at the bottom. The smaller cook top allows more bench space; the oven at bench height allows the cook to remove cookware from the oven, placing it immediately on the bench, at the same level. The single dish drawer dishwasher demonstrates a modern appliance that is easy to use, compact and saves water and space.
Two mobile drawer units have been provided to allow flexibility for a person using a wheelchair, they can be relocated or pulled out to use as work benches. The castors are locking and there is a handle on the side for ease of movement. The top drawer has a magnetic lock and a grey handle, it could be used by a carer of a person with dementia to store knives or similar.
The cook top and the kitchen sink have been insulated to ensure that there are no possibilities of a burn injury to someone in a wheel chair
Some of the ideas are simple and inexpensive, whilst others require professional installation and are more costly. For professional advise regarding your circumstances and needs, please contact the Independent Living Centre on 1300 885 886.