Of all the modifications to make for successful aging in place in your home, the kitchen retrofit is probably the most extensive and potentially costly. Most homeowners will only undertake a kitchen remodel once or twice, which means you may need to think about retrofits for aging in place long before you reach retirement age.
Standard kitchens can present significant safety and accessibility challenges for people with limited mobility or low vision. In addition to the general modifications I’ve covered for aging in place (including changing drawer and cabinet pulls and readying your home for wheelchair use), there are special considerations for a kitchen retrofit.
The three major challenges of kitchen design for aging in place are:
- Accessibility
- Fall prevention
- Food safety
Today, we’ll look at the first.
Kitchen Accessibility
Layout
In addition to ensuring your doorways are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair if needed, you’ll want to think about making the layout of your kitchen accessible for those using wheelchairs or other mobility aids, or for anyone who has difficulty with walking, lifting or reaching.
The U-shaped layout may be the most challenging kitchen retrofit for aging in place because it will require enough space – 60 inches or more around walls, cabinets and counters – for a wheelchair to make turns. If your current kitchen is U-shaped, potentially altering the layout is among the first discussions to have with your architect.
For other kitchen shapes, you’ll want to ensure you have a minimum of 40 inches between opposite work spaces (counters, cabinets, appliances, etc.).
Clearances between cabinets, sinks and appliances such as stoves, ovens, refrigerators and dishwashers should be at least 42 inches, and these appliances should have 48 inches of clearance in front of them to allow for door operation and maneuvering.
Kitchen islands can present an obstacle for wheelchairs, so unless your kitchen is large enough to provide adequate clearance (60 inches) on all sides, you may want to avoid including them in your kitchen retrofit.
Placement of major work areas – range/oven, refrigerator and sink – is especially important for those with limited mobility. You’ll want to minimize the amount of space you’ll need to carry heavy pots while ensuring there is adequate clearance for a wheelchair. If your kitchen plans include a countertop range, consider positioning it at the same height as and close to the sink, with a refrigerator and wall oven on opposite walls. And make sure the range and oven have enough adjacent counter space for placing heavy or hot items.
Accessible Cabinets & Drawers
After general layout, making your kitchen cabinets and their contents accessible to people who have limited mobility or sight is probably the biggest kitchen retrofit to consider.
The first step is to assess what items you use most often and where to place them for easy access. Take an inventory, thinking about the types of meals you prepare and what equipment and ingredients they require. Look at where these things are stored in your current kitchen and consider how difficult it would be to access them if you used a wheelchair or other mobility aids, had balance or strength problems or low vision.
For example, if your kitchen features lots of high cabinets, when it’s time to remodel, you and your architect may want to consider reconfiguring the new kitchen for more under-counter or other lower storage space, if possible.
Another option is to install upper cabinets at a lower than standard height, or to install pulldown cabinets (here’s an example) that lower cabinet contents to near countertop levels.
Make sure there is enough under-counter storage to house heavy appliances and pots, and all should have roll-out trays or even appliance lifts if you have stand mixers or other hefty items that you use frequently.
Liberal use of lazy Susans and pull-out trays can give you access to items stored in the back of cabinets and pantries.
Finally, make sure all upper cabinets are secured against heavy items falling and injuring you in the event of an earthquake (this is a good idea for everyone, not just older folks.) For aging in place, avoid hook-and-eye or standard door-mounted latches, which can be difficult for those with arthritis or low vision to use. Push latches or Seismolatches, which automatically latch the cabinet door in the event of an earthquake, are better bets.
This post first ran in 2020.