Still cooking – how to stay safe in the kitchen as we age

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, a place for Sunday roasts, morning cuppas, and fights over the washing up (usually confined to the youngsters!). But as we age, the kitchen can quietly shift from comfort zone to danger zone. Yet, with a few small changes and clever tweaks, your kitchen can stay a safe, joyful place to whip up meals and memories.

A little caution goes a long way

It’s no secret that as we age we can become less nimble on our feet. Slippery floors, hot surfaces, and hard-to-reach shelves can become real hazards. In fact, the kitchen is one of the top five areas in the home where accidents tend to happen, particularly falls and burns.

However, most kitchen mishaps are preventable. The trick is knowing where the risks are and making a few practical updates.

Avoiding slip-ups

We’ve all done the banana peel dance on a wet kitchen floor. But the older we get, the harder it is to recover from those kinds of slips. Here’s how to keep your footing steady:

• Rethink your rugs: Either get rid of them altogether or switch to mats with non-slip backings.
• Clean up spills pronto: Water, oil, and dropped bits of dinner can all turn the floor into a skating rink.
• Invest in proper footwear: Slippers are great, but make sure they have grippy soles. No socks-only shuffles!

And don’t overlook lighting. Bright, clear lighting helps you spot spills before you step in them. Motion-sensor lights or under-cabinet lighting can also help illuminate tricky areas.

Hot stuff: burn basics

Handling boiling water, hot pans, and sizzling oil gets riskier with age, especially if you have arthritis or reduced mobility. A few quick changes can make a big difference:

• Keep flammable things away from burners: Dish towels, wooden utensils, even oven mitts can all catch fire in a flash.
• Use long oven mitts and oven rack guards to avoid burns when baking or reaching in for that tray of scones.
• Try senior-friendly appliances: If you’re in the market for a kitchen upgrade, look for ovens and stovetops with front-mounted controls so you’re not reaching over flames, or consider an induction hob that only heats when a pan is on it.
• Set timers and reminders: It’s easy to get distracted. A simple kitchen timer or even your phone’s alarm can be a lifesaver.

Design tweaks that make life easier

You don’t need a full kitchen renovation to improve safety. In fact, a few small updates can go a long way:

• Move frequently used items to waist height. No more teetering on chairs or crouching like a yogi to reach the bottom shelf.
• Install pull-out drawers in lower cabinets. They’re easier on the back and knees.
• Replace heavy pots with lighter ones and opt for utensils with easy-grip handles.
• Switch to a shallower sink (about 6–8cm deep) if you struggle with reaching and rinsing.
• Get rid of chairs with wheels: they’re just waiting to scoot out from under you.
• A sturdy stool or adjustable-height chair can help you prep meals without being on your feet the whole time. Sometimes you just need to sit and stir.

Smart gadgets for safe cooking

There’s a whole world of clever kitchen tools designed to make life safer and easier:

• Cut-resistant gloves: Ideal if chopping veggies makes you nervous.
• Silicone spill stoppers: These handy lids stop boiling pots from overflowing.
• Baggy racks: These hold open plastic bags while you fill them with soup or stew – no extra hands required!
• Touchless taps: A lifesaver if your hands are arthritic or full.

A few final reminders

• Don’t walk on freshly mopped floors (tempting though it is).
• Turn pot handles inwards to avoid knocking them over.
• Unplug small appliances when not in use.
• Keep knives stored safely and skip the fancy glass ones that shatter like confetti.