Your mom’s kitchen was great when she was younger. As she’s aged, she has a harder time getting things from the upper cupboards. When she climbs onto a step ladder or stool, she’s not as confident. You don’t want her to fall and aren’t sure what to do first.

With a little reorganization, your mom’s kitchen can be ideal for her changing mobility. These are the most important changes to make.

Aim for Lower Shelves and Cabinets

Frequently used items need to be in lower cabinets. Slide-out drawers for pots and pans are ideal. Lazy Susan racks in a corner cupboard help avoid long reaches into the back corner. Try to move as much into these lower cabinets using those additions to the cabinet.

Things that should be on higher cabinet shelves are the small kitchen appliances that only get used a few times a year. Food items that aren’t regularly used should also be placed on the upper shelves.

Leave Counters for the Daily Use Items

Items your mom uses daily should be on the counter. Grains can be placed in decorative mason jars to keep pests out. If she has coffee each day, leave the coffeemaker down. An under-the-cabinet model may be helpful if counter space is limited. Be aware that the steam given off by under-the-cabinet coffeemakers may damage the finish on cabinets.

Make Use of the Walls and Backs of Doors

The walls are the perfect height for many regularly used items. If your mom uses spices, wall-mounted strips of magnets and metal spice jars work well. Stronger magnet strips can hold knives and free up counter or drawer space.

What doors are near the kitchen? There are hanging racks that fit against the back of a door and fit lots of canned or sealed items. If the basement is near the kitchen, you could use a hanging rack behind the basement door for cans of stock, jars of pasta sauce, and canned vegetables.

Invest in a Grabber

Grabber tools extend your mom’s reach. She’ll use the grabbing tool to reach items on upper shelves. When she’s done, make sure she has a spot where it can hang that’s easily accessible. A hook on the wall or the back of a cabinet door helps.

When you see your mom struggling to cook healthy meals, it’s time to look into home care. Caregivers work with your mom to plan menus, go grocery shopping, prep foods, and cook meals. Caregivers can also eat with your mom and make sure she’s eating well and not lonely during a meal. Arrange meal preparation services today.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Laurens, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas. 

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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