As your mom gets older, her balance isn’t as good as it used to be. She can’t reach items in the highest cabinets in her kitchen, and she’s not steady on a chair or stool. It’s time to transform your mom’s kitchen to make it easier for her to use it.
Place Small Appliances and Kitchen Tools That Get Used the Most in Accessible Areas
Put small appliances in the areas that are most accessible to your mom. She uses her coffeemaker and electric kettle every day, so put those together on a counter that’s a beverage-prep area. Having it near a sink is easiest for filling the water dispensers.
Your mom uses her slow cooker a few times a month, so that doesn’t have to be out. She only uses her toaster on weekends, so that goes into a cupboard, too. The marble cutting board she uses every day should be accessible, however.
Make the Most of Walls
An empty kitchen wall is wasted space. Invest in some decorative racks and put all of your mom’s spices in alphabetical order in an easy-to-reach area. You could have a coffee rack with your mom’s coffee beans and tea bags available right above her coffeemaker and grinder.
A whiteboard is handy for keeping track of your mom’s daily routine. If she has a to-do list with reminders like taking medications or paying bills, she’s less likely to forget to do something.
Magnetic knife storage is another handy item for a blank wall. Instead of taking up room on the counter, get rid of a knife block and put the knives on the magnetic strips.
Get Organized
It’s time to organize her cupboard and refrigerator to make everything easy to find. If things are organized, she’s less likely to forget about something until long after it’s expired. All condiments could go into one bin labeled condiments. The same can happen with vanilla extract, lemon or lime juice, syrups, and fruit preserves.
In the cabinets, put baking ingredients together on a shelf. Canned vegetables and fruits can go on another shelf. Make sure the items she uses the most are the easiest to reach.
Hire Caregivers to Cook For Her
If home-cooked meals are a problem for your mom, she needs to have someone helping out. Relying on frozen dinners and takeout are not great options. Look into the benefits of home care assistance services like meal preparation and grocery shopping.
Caregivers can come to your mom’s home, help her plan a weekly menu, and cook meals for her. If she needs groceries, she can go shopping with her caregiver or have her caregiver stop and pick up a grocery order before driving to your mom’s house. Talk to an expert in home care assistance to discuss these services.
If you or someone you know needs home care assistance in Buffalo, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 660-5772 for more information.