How to arrange the kitchen for the elderly to be convenient, practical and safe

Abstract: There are elderly people at home, how to decorate and design the kitchen? The kitchen is usually a humid place in the home. Therefore, special attention should be paid to anti-slip design to prevent the elderly from accidentally falling. In addition, as people get older, their legs and feet are inconvenient. Do not place some items in the kitchen too high to prevent the elderly from reaching them. Next, let’s take a closer look at how to decorate and design the kitchen of a senior citizen room. I hope it will be helpful to you! Kitchen decoration design for the elderly

1. Lighting selection

It is natural for people to become dazzled as they age. Over the age of 60, the degree will increase to about 250-300 degrees; the older you are, the more severe the degree of presbyopia in your eyes. People with presbyopia cannot see close objects clearly and prefer places with plenty of light. This is why parents and elders often read with their heads tilted back under the bright sun. Therefore, kitchens with elderly people at home need the following:

① Sufficient and uniform overall lighting.

For a kitchen with an area of ​​about 4_, place an LED flat panel lamp in the center of the kitchen, with a power of about 9W. If it is 6_ to 8_, divide the kitchen into three equal parts, and arrange an LED flat light at 1/3 and 2/3 respectively. The power should be 9~12W.

② Sufficient glare-free console lighting.

When making cabinets, the lighting problem of the operating table (vegetable cutting area) is often ignored. Because of the obstruction of the wall cabinet above, many people only find that the light is unclear and dim when they are chopping vegetables.

2. Floor decoration

Non-slip floor tiles should be paved, and when paving, pay attention to maintaining a certain slope on the ground to avoid water accumulation on the ground. If necessary, a rubber anti-slip mat should be laid on the floor tiles to increase friction. In daily life, wipe the floor frequently to keep it dry and avoid slippery surfaces.

3. Operating table

①Height: "Code for Design of Buildings for the Elderly" stipulates that the height of the kitchen operating table should not be less than 0.75~0.80m, and the clearance height under the table should not be less than 0.60m. The front and rear depth of the understage clearance should not be less than 0.25m.

②Width: The "Architectural Design Code for the Elderly" stipulates that "the width of the countertop should not be less than 0.5m." At the same time, according to the 15° working principle (work is easier when the angle between the arm and the left and right sides of the body is 15°), the width of the operating table should be 0.76m.

③Depth: The common depth of range hoods is about 0.5m. In order to prevent the elderly from touching the range hood with their foreheads when using the console, the suitable console depth for the elderly is 0.55m.

4. Stove

The stove is one of the most important appliances in the kitchen. To prevent heat or flames from cooking from damaging windows or backsplashes, the distance between the stove and window sill should be at least 50cm. At the same time, in order to avoid water splashing on the stove when using the sink, the distance between the stove and the sink should be no less than 40cm. Properly handling the distance between the stove and the surrounding space can not only improve the safety of kitchen activities, but also make cooking activities more convenient for the operator.

5. Sink

The sink is a cleaning utensil in the kitchen that is in direct contact with water. To prevent the elderly from forgetting to turn off the faucet or operating it improperly, causing water to overflow or splash, a sink with an overflow opening should be used. At the same time, a sensor-type sink is used, which automatically turns off the water source or releases water when the water level in the sink reaches a certain height.

In addition, the sink is one of the most frequently used kitchen appliances. If circumstances permit, the sink should be placed in front of the window as much as possible. Natural light illumination does not require additional light sources to avoid color differences in food caused by other lighting, which may affect the elderly's judgment of the food condition.

6. Kitchen cabinets

Cabinets are an important part of the kitchen. Depending on the location, it can be divided into floor cabinets and wall cabinets.

① Base cabinet

The regulations on barrier-free kitchens in the "Basic Parameters of Residential Kitchens and Related Equipment": the height of the base cabinet should be 75cm and the depth should be 60cm. The clear width under the floor countertop should not be less than 60cm, the height should not be less than 65cm, and the depth should not be less than 35cm.

②Wall Cabinet

The "Architectural Design Code for the Elderly" stipulates that the height of the bottom of the cabinet from the ground should be 1.4 to 1.5m. In a kitchen operated by a wheelchair, the bottom of the wall cabinet should be height from the ground. It is 1.2m and the depth is 0.25~0.30m.

The top elevation of the wall cabinet is generally not higher than 2.2m. The depth of the wall cabinet with a height of 1.4 to 1.8m should be set back 0.25m from the operating table to prevent the crane from hitting the head of the elderly when opening the cabinet door.

7. Power switch

① The power switch and socket should be installed within the user’s reach to avoid inconvenience caused by the elderly bending down or raising the head;

< p>② The elderly have poor eyesight, and the power switches and sockets should be in clear and eye-catching colors to form a certain contrast with the background;

③ The elderly have poor finger flexibility, and the power switches should be made of wide-body protective Leakage key switches;

④ Choose power sockets with protective covers for the elderly to increase safety.

Kitchen layout and storage for the elderly

1. Kitchen layout form

①L-shaped kitchen

When the L-shaped kitchen is laid out, the width of the passage is clear The width should not be less than 1.5m. At the same time, it is to meet the basic mobility needs of wheelchairs. There should be an operating space of about 1.22m long and 0.76m wide in front of the sink, stove and other operating equipment.

②U-shaped kitchen

The U-shaped kitchen has short work flow lines and multiple working surfaces. From the perspective of efficiency, it is suitable for the elderly and disabled people. It should ensure that 1.2m ~ 1.5m Wheelchair turning space.

2. Kitchen stool

It is best to put a stable, wide and suitable height kitchen stool in the kitchen so that the elderly can take a temporary rest when they are tired from cooking. The height of the kitchen stool should be higher than 50 cm, making it easier for the elderly to sit up.

3. Kitchen appliances

①Microwave oven

For the elderly, the microwave oven is an indispensable kitchen appliance. The elderly are usually reluctant to throw away unfinished meals, so with a microwave oven, they can be used to heat them directly, saving time and avoiding too much effort. When purchasing a microwave oven, the simpler the functions, the better, so that it is less likely to make mistakes during operation. The larger the scale and numbers on the dial, the better, which can take care of the elderly with poor eyesight.

②Rice cooker

A rice cooker is a must-have for every family. In addition to cooking rice, it can also be used to cook soft and glutinous porridge. It can not only satisfy hunger but also nourish the stomach, but for the elderly Generally speaking, the functions are not more but more refined. Compared with multi-functional smart rice cookers, rice cookers with only cooking and keeping warm functions can better meet the needs of the elderly. The one-touch operation is simple and less error-prone.

③Electric stew pot

After stewing, soup-like food can not only take into account taste and nutrition, but more importantly, it is suitable for the chewing function and gastrointestinal function of the elderly. It can nourish the stomach and facilitate absorption. An electric stew pot can be used to cook a variety of nutritious soups. You don’t need to check it all the time during the stewing process. You don’t need too many functions. The basic functions are enough. It has automatic power-off protection to prevent dry burning. Avoid the danger of forgetting to turn it off.

4. Kitchen utensils

The commonly used condiments in the kitchen come in different forms and are of various types. If they are placed one by one on the workbench, it will not only occupy the operating space, but also be difficult to distinguish. Therefore, a series of seasoning bottles can be designed uniformly for condiments (oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, monosodium glutamate, sugar, pepper, etc.) and labeled at the same time for easy access.

In addition, kitchen tools such as pots, spatulas, and spoons can also be placed in categories and hung in eye-catching places.

5. Storage skills

①Hang utensils

Put knives and other sharp tools in a stainless steel box. The box can be fixed to the side of the counter. If there are children at home, it is best to install the box on the inside of the cabinet door. Hang various utensils on S hooks, just above the stove. Ordinary towels can be used as hanging rods, saving money.

②Partition storage

If you do not make partitions for the drawers, the odds and ends in the kitchen will soon make the large drawers untidy. Economical and affordable partitions and organizer partitions come in handy at this time. Whether it is tableware or knives, whether it is large objects or small odds and ends, if you open the drawers neatly, you will be in a better mood for cooking.

③How to store pots and pans

Kitchen utensils, small pots, etc. can be hung on the porcelain wall. Porcelain walls are easier to fix brackets and easier to clean.

④Bracket

If the wall or ceiling cannot be installed with a hanging rod or bracket, you can consider installing a pull-out hanging rod in the cabinet. Used to hang spoons, ladles and other utensils.

Kitchen feng shui for the elderly

1. The kitchen stove should not be facing the main door or toilet door

As the saying goes: "Opening the door to see the stove will waste a lot of money." The door is where money and blessings enter. The kitchen is directly opposite the door. If you open the door, it can easily destroy your wealth. The toilet is a dark place. Facing the kitchen stove will cause unclean things in the toilet to enter people's bodies along with food, which will bring bad luck to people. In addition, the kitchen should not share the same door with the toilet. The kitchen is fire and the toilet is water. A door in the kitchen and toilet is used to force water and fire to exist. However, water and fire are incompatible. Such behavior is not conducive to family harmony and can easily lead to family illness.

2. The kitchen should not be located in the center of the house

Feng Shui believes that the attribute of the kitchen is fire. If it is set up in the center of the home, it means "fire burning the heart". It is not good for the physical and mental health of the residents. Therefore, the kitchen should be located in an auspicious position. Generally speaking, it is safer to lean to the side.

3. Red and black colors should not be used in the kitchen

Stoves belong to fire, and red itself also belongs to fire. If the kitchen is decorated in red, it will easily cause excessive anger, which will lead to the residents becoming irritable or prone to liver disease; black is water, and using it in the kitchen will create a conflict between water and fire with the stove, which will affect family harmony. .

4. The placement of kitchen utensils in the kitchen

The placement of kitchen utensils in the kitchen is very particular. For example, microwave ovens, rice cookers, sockets, etc. should all be located in auspicious locations in the kitchen. It is best not to hang the knives directly on the wall or insert them directly into the knife holder in the kitchen. It is better to store them in a drawer.

5. The kitchen stove should not be connected to items that use water

Water and fire are incompatible. If the kitchen stove is connected to the sink, it will make people impetuous and lead to no peace in the home.