In The Kitchen
Whether we like it or not, many of us spend a good deal of time in the kitchen preparing meals, cleaning up, washing clothes, eating etc. But many of these tasks can be made easier with the help of some adaptations, modifications, aids and appliances.
Preparing food can be take some time so it might be less tiring to use a perching stool if you are going to be on your feet for some time. A perching stool can also position you at the most comfortable height for the work surface you have which is important if you are going to be working in that position for a while. You might consider the option of a height-adjustable counter or table if there is limited space and there are a few people using the counter worktop including someone using a wheelchair.
There is a wide range of utensils available that can assist with jobs like opening jars or lifting a heavy kettle or teapot. Jar and bottle openers vary from those that simply improve your grip to those that have extended handles improving leverage for turning the lid. Some jar openers require two hands to use, one to hold or stabilise the jar and the other to turn the lid. Other openers are designed for one-handed users and can be wall mounted or fixed to the work surface.
More and more tins are now fitted with ring-pull openers these days but they are not easily used by everyone as the ring is often very tight and requires considerable force to open. Most hand-held tin openers are designed for two-handed use and there are some available with large handles for an easier grip. These might be used in conjunction with a gripping aid such as a Dycem mat.
Wall-mounted tin openers are another option for someone with the use of only one hand. The tin is placed on a stand which can be adjusted to the appropriate height to bring the tin lip against the blade for cutting using a rotary handle.
Electric tin openers can be hand-held or free-standing and there are cordless versions available now as well which are rechargeable.
Sometimes simply placing a non-slip mat underneath your chopping board will be all that is needed to keep it steady. A chopping board with spikes can be handy for stabilising your food or a board with two raised edges at right angles will keep a slice of bread steady for spreading butter etc for a one-handed user. Some boards also have a vice to hold objects secure when cutting or slicing.
There is a wide range of cutting and chopping equipment available from knives with contoured closed handles to those with handles positioned at a right-angle to the blade. Attachable handles are also available for adapting equipment to make them easier to grip. For some, a chopping device could be useful instead of a knife. This keeps the food chopped within the base of the device and the blade is operated by pushing down on a plunger pad at the top. This also makes it easier to transfer the now contained chopped food into a dish or saucepan.
Grating and slicing can be made easier if the device has suction feet to keep it secure. Some graters have boxes on them to automatically collect the grated food for use or storage.
There is a wide range of different talking kitchen equipment for people who are blind or visually impaired. For example, a talking kitchen scales with tactile keys can help with weighing ingredients and a talking measuring jug allows the user to measure fluids. Talking microwave ovens are also now available and usually include features such as a talking clock, talking timer and some can give audible guidance eg door is open.
For more information on the equipment described in this section, see Choosing Household Equipment.
Back to top
Often, standard equipment can be adapted to make it easier to use by attaching a more suitable grip or handle. There is a large range of attachable handles available for cutlery which range from large grip attachments to strap handles that help secure the piece of cutlery onto the users hand.
Large grip cutlery, cutlery with moulded handles and cutlery with a hand strap might be helpful for people with reduced grip or stiffness. For people with poor muscle control, weighted cutlery, swivel cutlery and deep bowl spoons might be useful, and plastic coated cutlery can cause less damage if the user has a strong bite reflex or collides with the teeth.
For those with the use of one hand only, combination cutlery may combine, for example, a knife edge and a fork combined as one so the user does not need to swap cutlery when eating. A knife with a rocker blade might also be easier for a one-handed user than a conventional blade.
For those with restricted movement, angled cutlery can reduce the amount of movement required by the user. Some angled cutlery is fixed and some can be manipulated to your specific requirements.
Again, a non-slip mat eg Dycem can help to stabilise plates and bowls to prevent slipping and make eating easier, and an attachable plate guard can create a vertical barrier to push food against when scooping it up. Some plates and bowls have an anti-slip base to hold them in position and others have high rims or sloping bases to make collecting food easier and are available in both ceramic and plastic.
For further information on the equipment described in this section, see Choosing Eating and Drinking Equipment.
Back to top
Boiling water is very dangerous and so accidents must be avoided. A full kettle is going to be heavy so only fill it with the amount you need to use. If you find it too heavy to lift over to the sink to fill, use a cup or jug to fill it up instead. A small travel kettle is very compact and can be much easier to use than the larger, heavier, family-sized versions. Also, a kettle that sits in a base plate and is removed for filling is safer and easier to use than a kettle with its cord attached to the jug.
If you find it difficult to tip the kettle to pour the boiling water, a kettle tipper can be used which requires minimum effort for a safe and supported pour. Your kettle sits onto the kettle tipper and it then does all the hard work. The equivalent is available for a teapot as well.
For people who are visually impaired, pouring a hot drink can be dangerous. A liquid level indicator can be hooked onto the side of the cup which has a sensor inbuilt. This indicates when the required level has been reached by omitting a bleep.
For further information on the equipment described in this section, see Choosing Eating and Drinking Equipment.
Back to top
The sink is at the very centre of the kitchen in terms of food preparation and clean up and there are various different types which can be fitted to make your kitchen more easily accessed. These range from those with the taps situated at the side rather than at the back of the sink making them easier to reach, to a sink in an adjustable countertop that can be lowered or raised according to the users needs. This can be very practical when there might be more than one user with different requirements in the same house eg the sink lowered for a wheelchair user and raised to standard counter level for a person standing.
A sink for a wheelchair user should have knee-space for the user to be able to position themselves in front of it. A shallow bowl can be used to help with wheelchair access so that the persons legs do not knock off the bottom of the sink. A heat resistant material should always be used to prevent scalding of the legs if they do come in contact with the sink bottom. For some, access to the sink using a parallel approach might be preferable, easier and space under sink is not wasted.
Reaching taps or turning taps can be difficult for those with restricted movement. Taps with levered handles can be installed to limit the reaching required but it is also possible to adapt existing taps with attachable tap turners. There are different attachable tap turners available which fit most standard tap heads and they usually come in a pair (one red and one blue) for hot and cold. Automatic taps which operate when hands are placed under them are another option available but are a more costly adaptation.
Back to top
A cooker hob built into a countertop is going to be easier for someone in a wheelchair to access with knee space underneath than a freestanding all-in-one cooker unit. The whole counter top can be height-adjustable so that a number of people can use the hob at their preferred height.
Cookers with the knobs at the back can be dangerous as the user has to reach over hot plates to use them. Cookers with the knobs at the side or the front are easier and safer to use. For an older person or person with a visual impairment, knobs with large numbering will be easier to see.
Glass tops on cookers can make cooking easier for users with limited strength as they can slide the pots across the hob surface rather than lift them, and they are also easy to clean. A wire stabilizer can be attached to the cooker top with suction cups to keep the saucepan steady when stirring which can be useful for people with the use of one hand only.
For a wheelchair user, a built-in oven with a side-opening door may be helpful. A pull out shelf just below the oven will allow the hot oven dishes to be removed from the oven onto a handy surface. Alternatively, the oven can be set at the height of a trolley so that hot dishes can be placed directly on to this from the oven to be moved.
Back to top
No one enjoys cleaning but some things can help make those dreaded tasks a little bit easier. For example, a long-handled dustpan and brush may reduce the stooping and bending over involved when sweeping. Some vacuum cleaners are lighter than others to move about and longer tubing allows for better reach. For more information on choosing a vacuum cleaner that is easy to use, visit http://www.ricability.org.uk/reports/report-household.htm. And remember, bins on wheels are less effort to move than bins without.
Washing machines can be complicated to operate so check how the controls work, the door opening mechanism and the soap dispenser and that they are easy to use before you buy. Tactile or Braille markings can be fitted to some controls to make it easier for people who are blind. If hanging out clothes is difficult for you, some washing machines have tumble dryers incorporated as part of the machine. Most automatically turn off when the clothes are dry. For more information on choosing a washing machine or tumble drier, visit www.ricability.org.uk/reports/report-household.htm
A wall-mounted ironing board can be set permanently to the height you require whether you prefer to iron either seated or standing. They can also be less difficult to manage than a free-standing ironing board. Small tabletop ironing boards are another easy-to-use alternative for smaller items. The ironing board can even be incorporated into a kitchen drawer. For information on choosing an iron that is easy to use, visit www.ricability.org.uk/reports/report-household.htm
For further information on the equipment described in this section, see Choosing Household Equipment.
Back to top
Ricability, UK - Consumer Reports
Ricability is an independent research charity in the UK. It publishes practical, actionable and unbiased guides for older and disabled consumers based on thorough professional research. All reports are based on independent research carried out by Ricability, including as appropriate user trials, technical tests, survey work or desk research. Its reports cover topics from the range of adaptations available for your car, to making your kitchen easier to use, to choosing a microwave oven that is easy to use. Though the guides and reports relate to the UK market, the products are typically globally branded goods available in Ireland and so much of the information is just as relevant to Irish consumers.
Some of Ricability's most recent and/or most popular reports include:
