How to Make Cooking Easier for the Elderly
Loss of independence and declining ability to do the most basic day-to-day tasks are just a few things that are frustrating for the elderly. For a person who has spent her life cooking her own meals, the loss of that ability can lead to everyday stress. With a few changes and some new tools, you can make cooking easier for the elderly person in your life. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Scan recipe cards, enlarge them and reprint them for easier reading. Store them in plastic sleeves in a binder for easier access than flipping through a recipe card box.
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Spend a day making meals for the elderly person that can easily be frozen. Label them clearly and store them in the freezer to be removed and heated up as needed.
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Encourage the elderly person to shop for vegetables and fruit that are already pre-cut so they don't have to worry about slicing and peeling. This is particularly important for those with shaky or arthritic hands.
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Switch out the oven for a unit that sits higher. The less an elderly person has to stoop to get something out of the oven, the steadier he will be. Likewise, keep the microwave on the counter rather than having a unit over the stove that he will have to lift things down from. A toaster oven on the counter can also be useful.
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Invest in some new kitchen gadgets that are designed specifically for the elderly. These can include bottle openers, knives and peelers that allow a better grip, ergonomic serving utensils, and food thermometers that verbally tell you the temperature.
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Move often-used dishes and food preparation utensils into places that are easy to reach and don't require a lot of stooping or digging. Switch to lighter weight or smaller dishes, cups and pots and pans that the elderly person can more easily handle.
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References
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