Kitchen Accessibility Ideas for Aging at Home

Watch a meal being made

The best kitchen plan starts with your relative making an ordinary meal, such as breakfast or a cup of tea, while you watch and ask questions. Which cabinet do they open first? Do they climb on a step stool for the colander? Do they avoid the bottom drawer? Do they sit down partway through? Write down what you see and, more importantly, what they tell you.

This page offers general organization ideas. It is not a safety assessment, and it does not replace advice from your relative's health care provider.

Easy-reach storage

A simple rule many families find useful: what is used every day lives between waist and shoulder height.

• Move everyday dishes, mugs, and glasses to the lowest upper-cabinet shelf or a lower cabinet near the dishwasher.
• Keep the most-used pots and pans in the cabinet closest to the stove.
• Place frequently used foods on the front of the middle pantry shelves, with backups behind or on a higher shelf.
• Store holiday platters, large roasting pans, and rarely used appliances on top shelves or in another room. They can come down when a family member visits.
• Keep a sturdy step stool with a handle for occasional use, and talk together about which items, if any, really need one.

Pull-out drawers and shelves

Deep lower cabinets often hide items at the back that require kneeling to reach. Pull-out options bring the contents forward:

• Freestanding pull-out bins or sliding baskets sit on the cabinet floor and need no installation. Measure the cabinet opening, including hinges, before buying.
• Mounted roll-out shelves attach inside the cabinet. Some are sold as do-it-yourself kits, but if you are unsure, a handyman or cabinet installer can help.
• Lazy Susans in corner cabinets or on a pantry shelf let items rotate into view.

Cabinet organizers

• Shelf risers create a second level for plates or cans so nothing is stacked too high.
• Vertical dividers hold baking sheets, cutting boards, and lids upright, so one can be pulled out without lifting the rest.
• Drawer dividers keep utensils sorted so the spatula is always in the same spot.
• Door-mounted racks (adhesive or over-the-door) can hold wraps, foil, or spices at eye level.

Labeling systems

Labels help everyone, including visiting family members, put things back where your relative expects them.

• Use large, high-contrast print, such as black letters on a white label.
• Label the outside of cabinets and drawers with plain words: "Mugs," "Baking," "Pot lids."
• Label food containers with the contents and the date it was opened or stored.
• Ask your relative what wording they prefer. If they call it "the junk drawer," that is the label.

The free Household Organizer can help you keep track of where things are stored after a big reshuffle.

Lever faucets

Many people find a single lever faucet easier to operate than two separate knobs, and some families consider touch-activated or pull-down sprayer faucets. Replacing a kitchen faucet involves plumbing and should be handled by a licensed plumber. Ask them about the reach of the handle, how far the spout extends, and whether the water temperature can be limited.

Everyday convenience

• Lightweight cookware. A smaller, lighter saucepan or skillet may be easier to lift than cast iron. Let your relative hold a few options in the store before buying.
• Two-handled pots spread the weight across both hands.
• Seating for prep. A chair or stool at the kitchen table or a counter lets your relative sit while chopping, peeling, or sorting mail. Choose a stable seat at a comfortable height for the work surface.
• A landing spot. Keep a clear stretch of counter next to the refrigerator and microwave for setting things down.
• Good task lighting. Plug-in or battery under-cabinet lights can brighten the counter. Hardwired lighting is a job for a licensed electrician.
• Easy-open tools. Jar openers, lightweight kettles, and large-handled utensils are options to try.

When to bring in a professional

Call a qualified, licensed professional for:

• Faucet replacement, water filters connected to the plumbing, or any change under the sink involving pipes (licensed plumber).
• New outlets, hardwired under-cabinet lights, or appliance wiring (licensed electrician).
• Lowering countertops, moving cabinets, or remodeling (licensed contractor).
• Gas appliance connections (qualified gas technician or the appliance installer).

Questions to ask: Are you licensed and insured for this work in our area? Does it require a permit? Can my relative try the handle or height before you finish? Can I have a written estimate and warranty?

Kitchen ideas to review

• Watch your relative make an everyday meal and ask what feels hard.
• Move everyday dishes and mugs to easy-reach shelves.
• Store rarely used items up high or in another room.
• Try freestanding pull-out bins in deep lower cabinets.
• Add vertical dividers for baking sheets and lids.
• Label cabinets and drawers in large, plain words.
• Try a lighter everyday pan and a comfortable prep seat.
• Keep a clear landing spot beside the refrigerator.
• Note faucet or lighting ideas for a licensed professional.

Record your ideas in the Home Comfort Planner. For more on sorting everyday items, see organizing frequently used household items.