http://www.care2.com/greenliving/kitchen-safety-for-someone-with-alzheimers.html
Kitchen Safety for Someone With Alzheimer’s
The kitchen is filled with potential trouble spots. For example, a person who is used to cooking may want to continue to do so but forget to turn off the flame when the food is done, may make the flame too high, or may not position pots safely on the stove top. At first, simply keeping close watch may be enough to reduce these risks. In time, as the disease progresses, it may be necessary to remove the knobs from the stove or to cover them so the person in your care will not notice them.
The microwave can be a mixed blessing. While it heats food quickly, the food can become too hot and the person with AD may use the wrong type of container and cause a fire. It may best be left unplugged with the plug out of sight.
People with AD sometimes put items in the refrigerator that do not belong there, such as a purse. They may also not be able to tell the difference between fresh food and rotten food or even food that needs to be cooked before it is eaten, such as raw hamburger. It may seem extreme to lock the refrigerator, but it might become necessary.
The following suggestions will make your kitchen a safer place for the person in your care:
• Remove spices or medicines from the counter tops and keep cleaning supplies in a locked place.
• Remove scissors and knives from counter tops and drawers. A person with AD may hurt himself or others with these dangerous items.
• Remove all items that cause confusion.
• Disguise the garbage disposal switches.
• Put all the garbage out of sight.
• Put labels on the cabinets.
• Install a shut-off valve (for a gas stove) or a circuit breaker for an electric stove so you can disable it when you leave the kitchen.
• Remove burner knobs and tape the stems or install knob covers.
• Use a lock-out switch on the electric range so it can’t be turned on except by you.
• Use an aluminum cover over the top of the stove, or use burner covers.
• Replace the pilot on a gas stove with an electric starter.
• Lock the oven door.
• Use safety latches on doors and cabinets.
• Install gates, door, or dutch doors so the kitchen can be closed off but you can still see and be seen.
• Install an automatic turn-off on the faucet.
• Install a governor on the hot water faucet (or turn down the valve under the sink) to control the amount of water that can be used.
• For a faucet spout that swings outside the sink itself, install a brace that keeps water in the sink at all times.
• Hide or get rid of dangerous small appliances.
• Turn off appliances by unplugging them, turning off circuit breakers, or removing fuses. Install smoke detectors (but not near the stove).
• Use an electric teakettle that has an automatic shutoff.
• Use a single-lever faucet that can balance water temperature.
• Provide an area away from the knife drawer and the stove where the person in your care can help prepare food.
• Ask the gas company to modify your stove to provide a gas odor that is strong enough to alert you if the pilot light goes out.
• Provide a step stool, never a chair, to reach high shelves.
Caring.com was created to help you care for your aging parents, grandparents, and other loved ones. As the leading destination for eldercare resources on the Internet, our mission is to give you the information and services you need to make better decisions, save time, and feel more supported. Caring.com provides the practical information, personal support, expert advice, and easy-to-use tools you need during this challenging time.
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10 comments
add your comment »Good discussion,let us keep the brain storming going. I have been doing some research on this area recently. There are projects at the university research level looking at future environments for people with alzheimer. One such project in England is documented at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1174541/The-kitchen-keeps-eye-Alzheimers-patients-using-digital. The cost of this project is in the millions of dollars range. For commercial products, that are affordable CellNetWeb.com offers cell phone web products for elder care. Their product does include kitchen safety products in which a remote care giver can monitor how long a kitchen appliance has been on from their cell phone. What they are doing is connecting the electric kitchen appliances through their cell phone web kitchen appliance junction system. This has timers and warnings that can detect appliances that have been on for too long. More information at http://www.cellnetweb.com/eldercare.htm
and http://www.cellnetweb.com/dementia.htm
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My grandmother suffers from AD and it's really helpful to have these pointers when thinking of what potential safety hazards I need to address in my home. Thanks for the great post!
~Aliya
http://www.inhomehealthcaregiver.com/Elder-Home-Care.php
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My grandmother suffers from AD and it's really helpful to have these pointers when thinking of what potential safety hazards I need to address in my home. Thanks for the great post!
~Aliya
http://www.inhomehealthcaregiver.com/Elder-Home-Care.php
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I read this article, and ran to grandpa's kitchen... he's got Alzheimer, and grandma knew not how to protect him from house accidents.
Thanks for the tips!
You deserve a recognition!
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My father in law has AD, in an advanced stage, and we have had some 'near accidents' and came to the decision that it's best to keep the kitchen altogether closed, at least when nobody is close to watch.
It might seem extreme and rough, but having to take them to emergency for a deep cut or burnings is even rougher.
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It surely is necessary to think about the safety - but to lock everything sounds a bit rough to me. What about putting a timer to electrical equipment so it can be used but switches itself off after a while. Creative ideas might be needed.
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Would not an affected person realize all these changes and react negatively? Child/adult proofing techniques would be necessary but creating a virtual kitchen prison with door/cabinet locks, no knobs, no utensils, no working anything would be met with angry frustration and resistance. I cannot imagine what this would be like, neither can I imagine what it would be like if I was affected. I am a cook and I use gas, cast iron, sharp knives. I put myself in this place and yes, my own kitchen would be a death trap if I was not in my mind. My heart goes out to folks so challenged and to their families in caring for them.
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Appreciate the article. But, if the affected person is such a danger, isn't it best to keep the kitchen, even with all the safety precautions in place, off-limits to the person? A new door maybe a double swing door which can be locked might be in order. The top portion swings open and can be latched, while the bottom portion, locked, prevents entry into the kitchen. At night, to prevent entry, the top portion can be locked securely. Have not thought of this before, and again appreciate the info.
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Dear Mel,May be this is OK if your living with your loved one ie. a partner. However they will more confused why all these things are taped up not working etc .? SO be prepared for mood changes! The frustartion may cause them to go out of the front door and wander for help. Are they safe with knives and forks? Are they aslepp at night or up? They also CANT always read the notes, or take in the information for a second. Because they may have No capacity or very little capacity.ie; How far has their memory gone.
I know myself and my sibblings had a long battle for 2 years, trying to keep our Mother out of a care home, But in the end she was not safe to be left. Maybe its best to get a proffesional assesment done by an occupational therapist, who knows what someone is capable of doing.
Whom ever reads this . its a difficult journey and i wish you all the best.
S.
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I would also like to add that setting up meals on wheels is a wonderful way to make sure your loved one eats nutritious meals without having to cook.....however there is also a need to monitor this as well. Introduce yourself to those who manage the local program and especially those who deliver the food and many of them will watch to make sure when they deliver the food, that the person begins to eat it. Also check ovens, microwaves, refrigerators, and other areas where an Alzheimer's sufferer may place food, thinking they will just store it here and eat it shortly. They often forget to eat it and it builds up causing a food poisoning hazard, infestation hazard, and they suffer from weight loss and malnutrition.
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