02 March 2022
Kitchens are a critical room in the house. It’s where we make and share meals, drinks and perhaps even bake the odd treat. They’re a hub of the home used multiple times a day for a variety of different reasons, which is why when it starts to become more and more inaccessible, it can have a huge impact on your day-to-day life.
In this series on home adaptations, we’re looking at ways to help make your home more accessible, from smaller changes through to larger scale remodels. To help you improve the accessibility of your kitchen we’ve put together advice and suggestions for you to consider, alongside tips from our in-house Occupational Therapist, Sharon.
Lifting kettles full of boiling water can become a daunting task if your strength and dexterity isn’t what it once was. A kettle tipper can help to reduce your risk of spilling boiling water or burning yourself as it removes the need to lift the kettle up. With a kettle tipper, once the kettle is boiled all you need to do is tip it forward to pour out the water into your cup.
You can get tippers designed to fit with your existing kettle or you can get those that come with a kettle.
Tap turners are a cost-effective way to make your taps easier to use without replacing them. They grip on to your existing tap but have longer handles, giving you more leverage when turning them on and off. The type of tap you have will decide if a tap turner is suitable for you.
Are you finding it increasingly difficult to prepare food? Food preparation aids are designed to make preparing food much easier, whether you need an adapted kitchen knife with a more ergonomic grip or a food preparation board to hold whatever you’re chopping, slicing or peeling in place. If you have increasingly limited dexterity in your hands or a weakened grip, these aids could help make cooking a meal less stressful.
Making a drink or preparing a meal can involve a lot of standing around. If you’re not as steady on your feet as you’d like or are finding it a struggle to stand for long periods of time, then a perching stool could help. Perching stools provide you with a space to rest while you go about your tasks, such as chopping vegetables or even doing the washing up.
Perching stools come in a variety of styles, including those with back supports and those without, so be sure to think carefully about what would benefit you when choosing one.
Slow cookers are a really useful way to make a delicious, nutritious meal with very little effort, making them a great option for days when you’re struggling with low energy. You can also use them to batch cook meals, so you’ve got a tasty dish to hand on another day.
A tea trolley can help to make transferring food and drink from one place to another much easier and safer. They’re especially useful if you need a little extra help and support with getting around as you aren’t trying to carry everything and walk at the same time.
These types of sink are worth considering if you or someone you live with uses a wheelchair or finds it a struggle to reach a standard height sink. It allows you to adjust the height of the sink depending on who’s using it, so everyone can use it as needed. If you think this type of sink may be right for you and your family, be sure to find a professional installer who specialises in adaptive kitchens.
Depending on the layout of your kitchen and who is using it, lowering some or all of your worktops could make it much more accessible. Lowering your worktop can make it much easier to work from and far more accessible for someone in a wheelchair. Removing any cupboards beneath the worktop would also allow extra space for the person’s wheelchair while they go about their food/drink preparations.
Do you need more tips and advice on other adaptations you can make to other rooms in your home? Download our full guide to home adaptations here or choose the room you need help with below:
Not sure where to start with adapting your home to meet your needs? Try our Home Living Consultation Service where a registered Occupational Therapist will assess your needs and offer recommendations for changes you can make.
By subscribing you consent to us using your email address in accordance with our privacy policy.