Tag: cleaning

Senior College, Senior College Class

Helpful Hints as We Age: Assessing Your Kitchen

wendyckasten

      Wendy C. Kasten, Ph.D.



Assessing Your Kitchen For Safety and Convenience AND What To Do With the Things You’ve Accumulated Over the Years

Most of us still cook some or most of our own meals. As we grow older, the ways we’ve always done things in the kitchen may need to change. While I will list examples here, it’s important to look at your own kitchen from the lens of being a senior.

  • Cookware we once loved may now be too heavy to handle safely. For example, iron cookware is popular. But, are you able to safely lift it out of the oven? Think about changing some of your cookware to stainless steel or adapt your recipe for such appliances as a microwave, multifunction cooker (Instapot), or Crockpot.
  • It may be more difficult to reach into the back of a cupboard or refrigerator shelf.  Consider purchasing “lazy Susan” turntables, which come in a variety of sizes and materials, such as wood or plastic. Some have rims, others are flat, and some are two-tiered. Use these in the kitchen, in bathroom cupboards, or on refrigerator shelves. These will help you see everything more easily, and you’ll be able to remove items without having to reach so far.
  • Are you doing any renovating? If so, consider drawers for pots and pans, spices, etc. instead of shelves. (Thanks to Brenda Mullen, Belfast, ME, for contributing this idea.)
  • Be sure lighting in each area of your kitchen is sufficient. Stronger bulbs may do the trick if the fixture indicates a higher wattage. In a prior issue of Village-Wise, I mentioned stick-on motion-sensor lights that can be added easily with their sticky backing.
  • Avoid putting anything on your kitchen floor that can become a hazard for tripping or falling such as, throw rugs, pet food dishes, shoes, etc. (Thanks to Brenda Mullen, Belfast, ME, for contributing this idea.)
  • Do you have trouble with opening doorknobs? Connie Bellet, from Palermo, ME and author of “Connie’s Kitchen” found in each issue of Village-Wise wraps masking tape around doorknobs as a way to open doors easily and without hurting her hand.
  • Jo-ann Morin of Frankfort, ME likes the ease of using her Pampered Chef jar opener. Thanks, Jo-ann, for contributing this idea. Below: A Pampered Chef jar opener. An online search will reveal a number of different designs.. jar opener
  • You may no longer feel safe standing on step stools. If that’s the case (check in with your doctor), you may need someone to help clean out high shelves and not keep anything on them any longer.
    • Lower cabinets may present different challenges if it is difficult to bend, kneel, squat, or stoop easily. For projects such as cleaning under the sink or re-arranging pots and pans in a lower cupboard, a small stool for sitting while you do these chores may be helpful. The stool pictured here is 16 inches high, foldable, and can be used indoors or outdoors. Quite a few varieties, in a range of sizes, are available from online retailers or hardware stores. In the summer, I have one in the front yard and one in the back yard to use while weeding or picking green beans. I also use a stool for other home projects, such as repainting a lower half of a door.


Consider getting rid of items you no longer use. If your kids or grandkids don’t want your things, here are options:

  1. Goodwill stores accept saleable items. Donation areas are not always open every day; call or check the website for the Goodwill nearest you before you load the car.
  2. Are you interested in cash for your good items? Consignment shops seem more popular than ever. Some specialize in clothing, while other shops are interested in furniture, antiques, household items and the like. Visit the shops and find out what items they accept and the financial arrangement; most use a 60/40 split, with the seller earning 40%. Ask what the shop does with items that are not selling. They may discount those items or donate them. If you want your unsold items returned to you, let them know.
  3. Search for “Pay it Forward” shops. A local example is located in downtown Searsport on Route 1. They sell your donated items, and all profits go to helping needy children.
  4. Consider having a yard sale or use Facebook Marketplace. Some local communities have “swap and sell” sites where sellers can list items for free and buyers can find a wide range of inventory. If you do this, and get a response, ALWAYS ask the potential buyer the local town they live in to ensure buyers are legitimally from the area. Correspondence is through an anonymous email until you feel comfortable sharing information. Sellers indicate if they will sell via door-to-door pickup or decide on a location to meet. ONLY accept cash. No exceptions.