Blog > Six Tips for Improving Kitchen Safety for Seniors with Alzheimer’s

Six Tips for Improving Kitchen Safety for Seniors with Alzheimer's

The kitchen is often a place of comfort and belonging for many. It’s the place the family has always gathered together to not only enjoy a meal but prepare a meal side-by-side. Traditions and stories are handed down from generation to generation in the kitchen. So, what do you do when your elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is no longer safe in the kitchen?

Why Are Kitchens Dangerous for Those with Alzheimer’s?

While for many the kitchen may have been their haven, having Alzheimer’s may have taken a safe place and made it dangerous. With memory issues and a loss of being able to problem solve, kitchens can become a dangerous place for many Alzheimer’s patients to try to navigate. From sharp objects that require care when using to hot appliances that need monitoring, it might seem like the best option is to simply close off the kitchen to your loved one with Alzheimer’s, but there are steps you can take to help your loved one still safely use the kitchen.

Six Tips to Make Your Kitchen Safer for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s

Make Safe Items Easier to Find. If your loved one simply wants to walk into the kitchen and grab a glass for some water but gets frustrated because she can’t remember where the glasses are, you can help by making sure they are not hidden behind a cabinet door. This might mean putting glass on cabinet doors so your loved one can see inside, or placing common objects that she wants out in the open.
Make Unsafe items Impossible to Find. If you’re worried about your loved one using a knife or cheese shredder then it might be time to lock these items up in a drawer or cabinet that your loved one cannot access. Making these types of utensils only available to caregivers or her Alzheimer’s Care provider will protect her from accidentally injuring herself.
Install or update appliances with safety controls. Many modern appliances can have safety controls to help reduce the risk of injury for your loved one. Stoves can have smart burners that have temperature control and appliances can have automatic shut-off capability if they are on too long without being used.
Label food more clearly. Instead of having the original boxes or containers in cabinets, consider using clear containers that have simple and large labels on them to make it easier for your loved one to know what is in each one. That will help alleviate confusion as she’s trying to determine if what she’s grabbing is sugar or salt.
Update the Microwave. If your loved one uses the microwave regularly, it’ll help her to have one with larger dials, and quick buttons with clear purpose and within easy reach.
Have an Alzheimer’s Care provider help with kitchen tasks. Having someone like an Alzheimer’s Care provider help prepare and serve meals can let your loved one still enjoy the kitchen safely.

Alzheimer’s Care Providers Can Help Your Loved One Enjoy Her Kitchen Again

Sometimes your loved one just needs a little help in the kitchen, having an Alzheimer’s care provider who can assist her when she wants to use the kitchen will help her to continue to be independent in the kitchen.

Reference
https://dementiawho.com/make-the-kitchen-safe-dementia/

If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s care in Abilene, KS, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas today. Call 620-603-0685.

Touching Hearts at Home Central Kansas is a Trusted Home Care Agency Barton, Dickinson, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Great Bend, Hutchinson, Larned, Lyons, Marion, McPherson, Newton, Pawnee, Rice, Reno, Salina, Sedgwick, Stafford, and the surrounding areas.