Kitchens for the elderly

‘Aging in place’ is becoming something that is preferred by seniors across New Zealand, with the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently and comfortably.

This means more than the comforts of home – it means retaining a sense of independence and ownership well into retirement. As technology advances, we are able to remodel our homes to make this lifestyle easier to obtain and give us the kitchens of the future as we age. Overall, the kitchen is one of the more dangerous rooms in the home. It’s also a room in which we spend a large amount of time.

Our Kleenmaid induction cooktops include many safety features that make these cooktops a real asset when safety is a priority. They recognize the presence of pots and pans in the cooking area, automatically turning off and cooling just a few seconds after they are removed. The induction glass surface is only activated by contact with pots and pans and for this reason, the degree of heating of the induction surface is clearly less than more traditional surfaces. Spill protection comes as a standard feature on all Kleenmaid’s induction cooktops. They recognize when liquid is sitting on the cooking surface and will automatically shut off if not cleaned up. They will also turn off the cooktop in the event of overheating, long absence or an accidental start.

ICT9021 & ICT8021 also feature Thermal Dynamic Sensors. These sensors measure the temperature of the cookware and automatically adjust the cooktop’s power output to prevent the cookware from getting too hot (including if a pot were to boil dry). This reduces the risk of two things, burning the food and overheating the cooktop; very clever. One misconception is that induction hobs affect pace makers, which is unfounded.

Wall ovens are one of the most versatile, convenient and safe versions of an oven to have in an aging in place residence. They can be placed in multiple locations and accessible heights. They can also be aligned with the adjacent countertop, reducing the need to bend or lift.  You also may be able to reduce accidents by installing a pullout counter directly underneath the oven, making it easy to set dishes down as soon as they are pulled from the oven.

Ikon have a large range of wall ovens to choose from and all come with Thermal Reflective Glass and EzyKleen enamel as standard features. Thermal Reflective Glass ensures the heat is retained within the oven and not lost through the glass, meaning fingers won’t be burnt if the oven is accidentally touched while cooking. EzyKleen Oleophobic (oil repelling) enamels are safer as they are nickel free and non-toxic. They are cheaper as the cleaning cycle is only 30 minutes, not 3 hours so they use less energy. Lower cleaning temperatures of 250°C as opposed to 470°C means less wear on oven electronics and hardware.

Sinks are a hotbed of activity in any kitchen.  Consider both the height and depth of the sink to give optimal accessibility. It’s much easier to rinse vegetables and dishes in a shallow sink and it will mean that anyone washing the dishes won’t have to bend too far over to reach the drain. We have shallow sinks options that would be ideal in this situation including Compact 10, Diplomat 10 and Queen R30 from our range of Regent sinks. All are around 15-20cm deep, which is the recommended depth for making accessibility easier. Matching a shallow sink with tapware with sprayer attachments or pullout nozzles will make washing dishes a breeze. Tapware must be matched with the right type of sink to get the best use out of both.

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