Carers frequently struggle with ensuring their loved one is safe in their kitchen. For both carers and their loved ones, a good balanced diet is vital to staying healthy for as long as possible.
The difficulty comes when cooking becomes unsafe for those with accessibility issues or cognitive disorders.
This can be stressful for carers. They are often torn between wanting their loved ones to retain their independence in the kitchen for as long as possible, but also making sure they stay safe.
Carers may also be concerned about their loved ones not getting all the necessary nutrients if they stop cooking in their kitchen. This may lead to carers doing all of their loved one’s cooking for them. This can be very time-consuming and frustrating for both the carer and the person that they care for.
Here are Five Solutions to Your Loved One's Problems in the Kitchen:
We have compiled a list of products and services to help carers and their loved ones have peace of mind in the kitchen. These solutions will help to prevent injury and accidents in the kitchen, allowing carers to be reassured that their loved ones are safe and independent when cooking.
1. Kettle Tipper
The idea of a loved one harming themselves in their kitchen is certainly an upsetting one. Boiling water poses one of the most dangerous potential hazards.
A Kettle Tipper is a device that uses hinges to ease the kettle forward, as opposed to having someone lift and tip it. This minimises the likelihood of accidents for those who struggle with their coordination, arthritis, or weak wrists.
There are Kettle Tippers available that also accomodate for teapots as well as kettles.
Here are a few examples of Kettle Tippers available on the market:
2. Tap Turners
Tap Turners help those with arthritis or other joint-related issues to turn their taps on and off with ease. Therefore, this avoids strain on their wrists and fingers.
The use of these are not limited to the kitchen and can be useful in any room with taps, particularly the bathroom.
These Tap Turners are also colour-coded to clearly signify which tap is being turned on, preventing accidental burns and scalds.
3. Meals to Order
It is possible that at some point cooking for themselves may become too much for the person being cared for. In turn, cooking for them may become too much for their carer.
Carers may feel guilty about this, but not everyone is able to spend hours in the kitchen.
Carers can still provide their loved ones with good and nutritional meals, even if neither one of them is able to cook them.
Meals to Order services are a convenient and effective option, for example Wiltshire Farm Foods, which delivers tasty and nutritious meals for all dietary requirements.
4. Cooking Baskets
A Cooking Basket enables vegetables to be cooked and strained without having to lift a pan of boiling water.
This is great for people with reduced strength, poor coordination, or weak joints. The flame retardant handle insulates heat, meaning that carers can be reassured that their loved one won’t burn themselves when holding the handle.
There are many hazards in the kitchen for those with decreased mobility, but one of these Cooking Baskets can help reduce this risk of injury.
5. Easi-Grip Knives
Knives are another very common hazard that is found in every kitchen. Carers will often particularly worry about the possibility of their loved one accidentally cutting themselves while preparing a meal.
These Easi-Grip knives have thick angled handles, which make maintaining a grip on the knife a lot easier. This is particularly useful for individuals with weaker grips or difficulty controlling their hand movements due to tremors.
The Kitchen is the Heart of the Home...
Cooking and eating well is vital for nutrition, maintaining social bonds, and for upholding mental and physical well-being.
These solutions can help make this easier and more accessible for people with additional accessibility needs, while simultaneously giving carers peace of mind.
We have more advice relating to diet and staying healthy available to carers, as well as people being cared-for. To find out more contact our Care Coach Service or take a look at our helpful guidance.
