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3 Easy Updates for an Aging-in-Place Kitchen
These three updates can make your kitchen a more pleasant place to be as you age so you can safely choose to stay in your home longer.
If you’re considering remodeling your home to be more aging-in-place friendly, you’ve probably mostly been focused on bathroom safety and accessibility, especially if your home has stairs. However, the kitchen is another area of the home that could prove challenging or unsafe as you age. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to update your kitchen that can make it a safer and more comfortable place to be as you age.
Good Lighting
Bright lighting is one of the best ways you can transition your home to be aging-in-place friendly—and the kitchen is no exception. You may want to consider added recessed lighting to your kitchen ceiling for better overall illumination of the room. Another option is to put in under-cabinet lighting so that your kitchen workspaces are brighter and more easily visible. Good lighting is especially important around the areas where cooking and chopping occur, like on your stove top or above your cutting board.
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Easy-to-grab Handles
Whether it’s your cabinet and drawer pulls or the handle of your kitchen faucet, look for large handles that are easy to grab or turn. This will make opening cabinets or adjusting water temperature quick and painless, without having to worry about gripping or fumbling.
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Appliance Height
Ideally, your kitchen will be arranged to minimize the number of times you have to reach up high or down low to access an appliance. Consider using a countertop microwave, rather than one built in over the stove, if you have the counter space to spare. If possible, install an oven that is slightly elevated off the ground—ideally around your middle torso. This will reduce the risk of back injuries or painful falls when putting food in or taking it out of a hot oven.
These three updates can make your kitchen a more pleasant place to be as you age so you can safely choose to stay in your home longer.
To learn more about the cost of remodeling options, download our free guide here. To learn more aging-in-place, download our free guide here.