Accessible kitchens: making life easierMaking a kitchen accessible to people with restricted mobility or other physical conditions that make the dailyroutine harder to cope with is easier than it might seem at first. Depending on the shape and size of yourkitchen, you shouldn’t need to make too many ‘structural’ changes to it. By following the tips below, you mayfind cheaper ways to make life easier without having to totally redesign the room.

Height matters If someone in your household uses a wheelchair, placing things at the right height in the kitchen is essential.Make sure that worktops are not too high for the person to use and that essential items are not kept incupboards out of their reach. You could install waist-height shelves to store things in daily use, or fit cupboardsin spaces lower down, such as under the table or below the sink. Stack plates vertically in a rack so that youdon’t have to lift heavy piles or crockery, but rather take them out one at a time. Ensure there is enough freespace for the chair to turn fully round without hitting any obstacles.

Colour coding People with a visual impairment will often use bright colours to navigate their way round. Have differentcoloured flooring in the kitchen to the adjacent hall or room, to delineate where the doorway is, and addcontrasting colours around the kitchen to show where the different workspaces are, e.g. change the colour of

ACCESSIBLE KITCHENS:MAKING LIFE EASIER

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the wood or tiles by the sink and around the oven. Choose a light coloured worktop and darker cupboard doorsto mark out a visual contrast.

Accessible appliances Opt for a separate oven and grill that sit side by side, rather than having a traditional combination with the grillsited above the stove top. Likewise with fridges and freezers, buy two separate units, rather than having one sittoo high on top of the other. Raise the dishwasher up slightly so you don‘t have to bend down so low to fill andempty the bottom layer. If you don’t have enough room for these kinds of appliances in your kitchen, considerinstalling a couple of appliances in a garage, utility room or hallway.

Ease of use Make sure drawers are fully extendable and glide in and out easily. Replace small drawer and cupboarddoorknobs with leaver handles that are easier for stiff hands to twist or pull. Use colourful stickers to highlightwhere the levers are, if someone’s eyesight is a concern. You can also buy easy-to-use lever handles for sinktaps, or even motion sensor alternatives to make drawing water as simple as possible.

Sensory support Consider installing LED lighting underneath higher cabinets. This will reduce the glare from overhead lightingand add illumination to the worktops. Replace oven counters with a timer showing larger numbers and addedaudio alarm facility for extra alerts. If someone is hard of hearing, fit smoke and carbon monoxide detectorsthat flash brightly while emitting an alarm, for optimum safety.

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