In the Kitchen 

Being able to thrive at home and perform everyday tasks in the kitchen can sometimes prove too be difficult for loved ones due to a health condition and/or a life stage, through which individuals pass over the course of in later life.

We spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The kitchen is the hub of the home, the space for gathering with family and socializing with friends. It’s the space where we perform numerous tasks every day.

Making the kitchen accessible, safer and more user-friendly so a loved one can thrive at home and continue to live independently doesn’t mean the aesthetic of the kitchen has to look drab and boring.

Thanks to today’s on-trend designs and innovative products you can modify your kitchen and make it the envy of all your friends while making it more conducive for aging in place.

Thrive at Home 

The goal of improving your kitchen is to create a space that really functions for you and how you’ll use it. Start planning by first creating a wish list of things you really want and need today and in the future insofar as major appliances, and use that as a jumping-off point for planning your new and improved kitchen so you can continue to thrive at home.

Next, consider how you will use the kitchen. Are you a causal cook, or a top chef? Do you like to bake? And how often will you use it? Do you eat out a lot or cook every day? What else is important to consider in a kitchen modification project besides appliances?

For most everyone living independently, the cornerstone of an accessible and safe kitchen is the floors. Make sure they’re nonslip vinyl / resilient flooring. And don’t forget about the lighting.

5 Appliances for Aging Freely @ Home

1. Dishwasher

Having a dishwasher in your kitchen isn’t necessarily a need, but it is nice to have, a luxury most of us have grown accustomed to having. And a dishwasher can be very beneficial to someone who might have difficulties standing for extended periods of time that makes washing and drying dishes difficult.

Thanks to today’s innovative technology, there are dishwashers that offer one-touch operation, have cycle choices for smaller loads. There are some 2-drawer dishwashers that allow you to operate each drawer independently, for greater cleaning flexibility along with counter height design and convenient handles that makes it easy to open and close.

Modern dishwashers go beyond washing and drying. Newer models can come fully loaded with a ton of features, but keep in mind the price increases when you start adding extras. Decide which features you need (and don’t need) before shopping. When it comes to dishwashers, the key to balancing price and features is to think about how you use it.

And keep in mind that dishwashers can be noisy.  Noise levels are rated in decibels, the lower the decibel number the quieter the dishwasher. A difference of just a few decibels may not seem to be much, but a dishwasher that is just one decibel more is actually 30 percent louder.

An innovative dishwasher on the market today, is the Electrolux ComfortLift a dishwasher that allows you to load and unload dishes at a comfortable height. It is capable of raising the dishwasher’s lower rack to a height that makes it easier on your back to load and unload the dishwasher with minimal bending. The ComfortLift lower rack descends in an up and down motion making dishwashing less strenuous.

If you entertain frequently you might want a model with adjustable racks and tines like the ComfortLift. These racks offer the flexibility to accommodate delicate wine glasses and other delicate glassware.  The adjustable racks also are able to manage oversize or oddly shaped plates and platters. And additional wash cycles include an ultra-quick wash for lightly soiled items, a top-rack-only wash for glassware, and a heavy-duty cycle for pots and pans.

2.  Refrigerator

French Drawer, Top Freezer, Bottom Freezer, Side-by-Side, when it comes to refrigerators, options go far beyond simply a refrigerator that you can get a glass of ice water or a cup of ice from without having to open the door. Many improvements have been made in the design of refrigerators; here are some features that can increase usability for older adults and loved ones aging freely in their home:

• A convenient, illuminated water and ice dispenser on the outside of the door
• Large numbers and letters on displays
• Long, continuous door handles allow for multiple gripping points
• LED lighting inside the refrigerator to improve visibility
• Door alarm alerts you if the doors are left open to help avoid costly food spoilage
• Smart Home enabled

We found a great feature packed refrigerator, the LG LSXS26326-Studio Side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. It features soft closing doors, and easy access to the inside, along with adjustable, slide-out shelving, gallon-size door bins and multiple drawers.

Plus, this Energy Star qualified LG frig comes with sophisticated styling and a Space Plus Ice System, external ice and water dispenser, an intuitive LED display, contoured doors, and digital temperature controls to help keep your food fresher than ever.

As with most appliances, convenience, flexibility and style are features that are lifestyle dependent. You should decide what features are important to you. If through-the-door filtered water and ice are a must-have, just make sure your kitchen has a waterline for installation.

3.  Stove / Oven / Range

When it comes to kitchen tasks like baking a cake, or making your infamous spaghetti sauce a good stove is a must-have in the kitchen. Make sure your new range will fit flush with your cabinets, and level with your countertops. Hire a professional contractor for any installation assistance.

With a variety of types, styles, configurations and features how do you decipher it all? The words “oven”, “stove”, “cooktop” and “range” are sometimes used interchangeably. Here’s a quick summary of the three terms:

• Cooktop –The flat surface used for simmering, boiling and frying. Cooktops are also referred to as “stoves.”
• Oven –The specific space dedicated to baking, cooking and broiling your favorite foods.
• Range –The combined unit that features a cooktop and an oven.

Having a range with automatic shut-off that can prevent accidents from happening is certainly something to think about when considering what stove to buy for your newly updated kitchen. Quite often many of us start cooking something on the stove then wander off and get side-tracked. This is not just because of being forgetful; it can happen to the best of us.

Consider capacity when deciding the style and configuration as models vary by capacity. If you live alone or with another person, it’s recommended to aim for 3 cu. ft. If you cook for a family of two or more, consider a range with a capacity of 5 cu. ft. or more.

GE has a great looking glass cooktop stove, the GE Profile that is an excellent choice for a kitchen range. Not only does the glass top cool much faster than standard ranges, the smooth top allows for easy transition from the stove to the counter. And the glass top is easy to maintain and clean. The stainless steel facade will have your kitchen looking modern and more stylish than ever.

The GE Profile Electric Range features “True European Convection with Precise Air” allowing for perfectly baked chocolate chip cookies without having to turn the pan. And with Induction Technology, you can enjoy fast innovative and efficient cooking as well as:

• Wirelessly control with your smartphone and voice commands
• Control 2 elements at once with the touch of a single button and create a larger cooking surface for big cookware like griddles
• Storage Drawer adds space so that you are able to store your pots and pans when they are not in use but allows for easy access for whenever you may need them
• Digital Electronic Display on the control panel makes it easy to operate with just the touch of a finger
• Self-Clean with steam option includes an energy saving quick setting
• Large oven window provides better visibility of the oven interior, allowing you to monitor cooking progress without opening the door, keeping oven temperatures steady and undisturbed
• 3 oven racks can be configured in 9 different positions to accommodate a variety of baking needs.

This GE stove provides up-to-date technology and exceptional quality to simplify the way you live. With a timeless appearance, this range is ideal for aging in place.

4.  Wall Oven

A wall oven is truly a versatile kitchen appliance it can be mounted in a variety of locations and at a height that is suitable for everyone. A wall oven can also be installed so that the interior rack lines up with the adjacent countertop, which will limit the amount of lifting or bending. You might also want to consider a counter that pulls out beneath the oven, giving you a place to set dishes as they come out of the oven.

If you’re looking for a new wall oven the GE Café 30-inch double electric smart wall oven is something to consider. It is self-cleaning with convection baking capabilities, and is WiFi ready offering 10.0 cu. feet of baking capacity – which means large holiday meals aren’t a problem. Other features include:

• Glass touch controls – Set temperatures quickly and clean with little effort
• 10-pass dual broil element (both ovens) – Large and small dishes brown evenly with two, full-coverage elements
• 10-pass bake element – Even baking is assured with heat that covers more surface area
• Large oven window lets you monitor cooking progress without opening the oven door, maintaining a consistent oven temperature
• Progressive halogen oven lighting See what you’re baking with lights that slowly illuminate the oven
• Notification lighting – Know the status of your oven functions with a quick glance
• Wirelessly control from your smartphone with the GE Kitchen app or with a voice command device
• Control lockout prevents unintentional or unsupervised use to promote safety

If your kitchen has the space and budget to accommodate a wall oven, it’s a nice alternative to the standard all-in-one range. Ease of use features include bigger viewing windows, brighter interior lighting, and temperature probes that alert the user when your Thanksgiving turkey is done.

5.  Microwave Oven

Microwaves have come a long way since first introduced to our kitchens back in 1967, and are now pretty much a standard fixture in most kitchens. In terms of usability and safety, todays microwaves are more so than ever. Some models offer one-touch cooking or beep with visual indicators that the food is finished cooking or needs to be stirred.

A microwave is a must-have for heating soup, cooking Ramen, reheating leftovers, or heating a T.V. dinner. A microwave is practical, making life easier and more convenient especially for loved ones who are aging in place. What should you look for when buying a microwave for your newly remodeled kitchen for living independently?

Consider a pull handle rather than a push button for opening the door.  Choose a model that is easy to reach, such as a drawer microwave or one installed at counter-height built in the wall, or in a kitchen island. Choose a microwave with simple controls that are easy to read. Also, look for ones that offer visual indicators and tones used to signal instructions.

Take for example the Whirlpool Smart Over-the-Range Microwave with Scan-to-Cook Technology that can also act as a convection oven. It takes voice commands and also has touchscreen controls, which work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. That means you can give commands to a smart speaker with one of the assistants built in to control your microwave. You’ll also enjoy multistep cooking features that let you select different cook modes to prepare a single dish.

Kitchen Modifications Made Easier  

When it comes to choosing appliances for your kitchen modification think about how you want to thrive at home and how the appliance will fit with your needs and lifestyle. You should identify your objectives, and priorities, and have a clear vision of how your new kitchen will function, after exploring various ideas and options.

Next you should come up with a budget. Have a price range in mind for each appliance you’re going to replace, and then pick the features you must-have and you’ll be able to narrow down your appliance options based off of your overall spend.

Lastly, keep in mind in order to thrive at home when modifying your kitchen for living independently you might want to also consider a few well-placed smart plugs, with WiFi apps and voice assistant that can make navigating your kitchen even easier while you happily and safely thrive in your home.