How To Help Your Elderly Loved One Cook Safely

Elderly Care Skokie IL
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Your elderly loved one might want to keep cooking, but is it a safe thing for her to be doing? After you check over her kitchen for potential safety hazards, it's time to revamp what you can in order to make cooking more enjoyable. Your loved one may be at a point where she only enjoys cooking every once in a while, so you may have to investigate other options there, too. 



​Kitchen safety is incredibly important for your elderly loved one. These tips can help. 

Use Appliances that Shut Off Automatically 
As your elderly loved one gets older, memory can become a problem for her. For that reason, you might want to consider swapping out some of her appliances for those that can turn off automatically. You might also consider using notes in places where your loved one can see them while she's cooking. The notes can serve as reminders to set timers, to not leave her uncooked food unattended, and to turn off appliances before she leaves the room. 

Declutter the Kitchen 
To minimize the risk that your loved one trips or has other injuries while cooking, it's a good idea to declutter some in the kitchen. Make sure that unnecessary items are picked up off the floor. If there are throw rugs in the room, make sure that they are either backed with rubber to prevent slipping or that they're taped down with carpet tape. 

Check the Fridge Once a Week 
Leftovers aren't a bad thing to have on hand, but they can't stick around for a long time. Check your elderly loved one's fridge regularly to make sure that any leftovers leave before they go bad. While you're at it, use a fridge thermometer to check the temperature in your loved one's fridge. If the fridge and freezer are set too high, food won't be kept at a safe temperature and will spoil far more quickly. 

Use Labels, Timers, and Pre-cooked Meals to Simplify 
Labels, timers, and notes can help your loved one to stay on task and to ensure that she's able to keep cooking for as long as she wants to. Another option is to have family members sign up for meal preparation so that your loved one has meals in the freezer and the fridge when she doesn't feel as much like cooking.  
You can also consider hiring senior care providers who can cook for your loved one. You'll know that she's getting nutritious meals and she won't have to cook for herself. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care in Skokie IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

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