No matter where your home is, more than likely the heart of it revolves around the kitchen. Laugher, comradery, and precious memories are created in this space, but it can be nerve wracking to bring your loved one with dementia into the kitchen.
Here at Home Instead, we want to give back the peace of mind and connection you all deserve when sitting in the kitchen. With our client and caregiver tested safety-proofing tips, it will create a safe, secure, and familiar environment for your entire family.
Here are a list of safety-proofing tips you may need to address in your home:
Make sure your loved one has proper eyewear
This first tip is one many of our clients are shocked by when Care Pros recommend it! Sometimes people living with dementia have issues with their visual spatial relations. They might not be able to see things that are similar in color, like transitioning from carpet to tile, or have difficulty with shadows.
Since the kitchen is usually in the center of a home, there are a lot more distractions that are difficult for your loved one to decipher. You want to make sure that they have properly fitting eyewear with the right prescriptions, but also proper hearing aids to encourage communication and noise clarification.
With this prevention put in place, you’re well on your way to a safer kitchen for your loved one to sit in!
Prioritize the stove top
The first step in kitchen safety-proofing should revolve around the stovetop. For loved ones with dementia, it is incredibly common to accidentally leave the stove on. An easy way to combat this is take the dials off and leave them in a safe spot to put back on while you’re using it. This way, you both have peace of mind the stove is only running when you want it to be.
Store daily items in easy places to reach
To maintain as much independence as possible for your loved one with dementia, it’s all about creating an easy-to-use kitchen space. More than likely, heavy items are currently being stored in the bottom cabinets of your kitchen, which forces your loved one to bend down and potentially lose their balance.
Instead, opt for hooks on a blank wall space that make it easier to grab and go without physical exertion.
Another huge step to consider is putting spices, utensils, and any other daily items of use in easier places to reach. Although we are much more flexible on high and low storage spots, focus on keeping things in your loved one’s immediate range.
Move potentially dangerous items out of sight
Although it’s always the hope that your loved one with dementia wouldn’t injure themselves, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. When it comes to kitchen items like knives, storing these in those harder to reach cabinets minimizes any potential risk.
On the same train of thought, cleaning products can also be potentially dangerous to your loved one with dementia. Although it’s sad to hear, our Care Pros have worked with families who in the past have had difficulty with their loved one deciphering the difference between normal food items and hazardous products. To avoid this altogether, use a simple lock to prevent any hazards.
When transitioning your kitchen into a space that’s safer for your loved one, the goal is prevention to keep peace of mind for your entire family. Although not all of these steps may not be necessary for your loved one, it’s important to remain realistic in steps that need to be taken to ensure safety for everyone. If you’re having any trouble creating a safe and easy-to-use kitchen space for your family, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Home Instead for additional assistance.
