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Watching our parents grow old is a bittersweet experience that comes with its own challenges. However, according to a survey, cooking meals is an activity parents don’t want to drop regardless of age. Therefore, it is vital to ensure the safest stove conditions while they’re cooking.
You can make a stove safe for the elderly by keeping a close eye on them while they cook. You need to watch what they wear to the kitchen, how they use the utensils, and more. Additionally, you need to clean the stove after they cook to reduce fire risks.
In this guide, I’ll take you through eight ways to make a stove safe for an older person who loves to cook. Let’s get started!
1. Ensure the Gas Stove Is Very Clean
The easiest but most neglected preventive measure for safe stove cooking is cleaning the stove regularly. The hands of elders may shake while cooking, and many oils and other food items fall on the gas.
The caregiver has to clean the stove after they have cooked their meal. Typically, we clean stoves at night after the cooking process has finished, as leaving grease and other items on the stoves increases fire risks, making them harder to clean.
According to a report, cooking caused 42% of fire-related injuries between 2015 and 2019. The only way to avoid such fire outbreaks is to clean regularly.
Cleaning the stove after making a meal doesn’t nullify thorough cleaning at intervals. You can use a foam or wipe to clean the furnace immediately if you notice any spill.
Keep in mind that thorough cleaning involves using hot water and soap to scrub the stovetop. You can perform rigorous cleaning biweekly or even monthly.
2. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector in the kitchen
Carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous gasses in the world. The elderly have more fragile organs and, as such, shouldn’t inhale this colorless and odorless gas at all.
This gas is a silent killer, as no one knows when they are inhaling it. It just keeps accumulating till you inhale enough to be poisoned. According to a report, more than 20,000 people have had emergency medical cases related to carbon monoxide.
Amongst these emergencies, over four hundred people are reported dead every year.
If you check the flames of the stove and you can see yellow or golden color, there is a possibility of carbon monoxide. However, no one can genuinely smell or see carbon monoxide, so how can you prevent the elderly from inhaling this harmful gas? The best way to do this is to install a carbon monoxide detector.
There are two ways carbon monoxide detectors work, depending on which one you purchase:
- The color carbon monoxide detector. This type changes its color when it detects carbon monoxide. The color changes indicate the amount of CO in the room.
- Carbon monoxide alarm detector. This alarm works with a warning that detects the presence of carbon monoxide in any system. The alarm trigger indicates the amount of CO found in the room. If the amount of CO is low, it may take hours, but if it is high, it takes only minutes.
The best type of carbon monoxide detector for the elderly is the one with an alarm detector so that they can hear its sound.
Without thinking twice, I recommend installing the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector (available on Amazon) in the home if you have aged parents. This carbon monoxide detector is easy to install and has a loud 85db noise that anyone will hear.
Installing the carbon monoxide detector is usually straightforward, but as much as you can, ensure it is close to the stove and other devices. This will ensure the device’s accuracy in reporting CO presence.
3. Purchase a Fire Extinguisher
According to a report, older people are more likely to die in a fire outbreak than younger people. Panic is a significant cause of these deaths among the elderly.
Panicking when there is a fire outbreak is a normal thing to happen. With many older people having weak organs, it is typical for them to give up when they notice a fire.
However, for the stronger older people, the panic gets more serious when there is nothing to stop the fire. You need a fire extinguisher close to the kitchen’s cooking area.
Water can put off some fires, but in other cases, it can make it worse. According to Insider, there are five classes of fire, including:
- Class A fires. These are minor ones that water can help efficiently. You get these fire types from wood, plastic, and other materials.
- Class B fires. These fires are dangerous and come from grease, alcohol, and other compounds. Using water on this fire type will spread it.
- Class C fires. These fires come from electrical appliances and will spread in contact with water.
- Class D fires. It comes up when metal surfaces melt and catch fire. This fire type is rare.
- Class K or F fires. These fires come from cooking oils and animal fat. You’ll require a particular fire extinguisher to take care of it.
Buying a fire extinguisher is not straightforward because you must choose between several different types. The fire extinguisher types according to NFPA include:
- Water extinguisher. This has water as its primary extinguishing material and isn’t ideal for the kitchen.
- Carbon dioxide extinguisher. This type of extinguisher uses CO² as its extinguishing agent. It doesn’t leave any signs of extinguishing when you finish.
- Film foaming extinguisher. This type of extinguisher is ideal for only class A and B fires.
- Halogen extinguisher. This extinguisher comes with pure halon and the corresponding cleaning agents.
- Dry chemical extinguisher. The extinguishing compounds are bicarbonate bases of potassium or sodium.
- Wet chemical extinguisher. The wet chemical fire extinguisher is the most appropriate for kitchen use. Its extinguishing agent is a combination of different compounds.
I recommend Amerex B260, 6 Liter Wet Chemical Class A K Fire Extinguisher (available on Amazon.com) for your kitchen needs. Aside from this extinguisher being effective at putting out fires, it is also compact, making it easy for the elderly to carry.
You can install an automatic fire extinguisher in the home if you have an older person over eighty years old. Other extinguishers may be too heavy for them to carry.
4. Install Grab Bars Strategically
Falling is common among older adults. These falls can be extremely dangerous, affecting their wrists, head, and other crucial body parts.
Grab bars are installed to provide extra support while standing, transferring weight to the bar and reducing the chances of falls.
Grab bars are more common in the bathroom and toilet areas because they are slippery, and older folks need to go there alone. However, these bars are also a great addition in the kitchen.
Think about it – older people struggle to stand correctly but don’t want to stop cooking. The cooking will continue if they have grab bars to rely on when tired.
Before you install a grab bar in the kitchen, you need to understand the different types and their respective advantages. According to Forbes Health, here are the kinds of grab bars you can choose:
- Suction grab bars. As the name implies, these grab bars use suction cups to stay on the walls. They are not ideal for elderly usage, as they can become weak after a while.
- Wall-mounted grab bars. This type of grab bar is the best for elderly usage. These bars stand firmly on the walls with screws, making them firm enough for use.
- Bathtub-mounted grab bars. These grab bar types are great for only bathroom usage since they require a bathtub to stand correctly.
- Freestanding grab bars. This grab bar is vertical and often has its connection from the floor to the ceiling. It can be an excellent fix for the kitchen.
- Folding grab bars. These grab bars are crucial when you do not have enough space in the kitchen.
When installing a grab bar in your kitchen, some of the factors to consider include:
- The firmness of the grab bar.
- The age range of the older adults
- The closeness of the grab bar to the cooking and working areas in the kitchen.
- The material of the grab bar.
If you want to buy a grab bar, I recommend the Zuext 2Pack Grab Bar from Amazon. This grab bar has a powder-coated finish that makes it hard to slip, ensuring maximum grip for older adults.
5. Install an Anti-Tip Bracket
Most meals’ cooking and the stirring process can be a rigorous activity that may move the stove from its original position. That is why most, if not all, stoves come with an anti-tip bracket.
It is vital that you install the anti-tip bracket with the stove whether you have an older person cooking or not. The anti-tip bracket will ensure that the stove stays firm throughout the cooking process.
If you need an anti-tip bracket, I can recommend GE WB02K10254 Genuine OEM Anti-Tip Bracket Assembly (available on Amazon.com) if you have a GE stove. These brackets come directly from the company, so they work with any stove type and have durable materials.
If you have a different stove, you can get the corresponding anti-tip bracket.
6. Use a Walker for Kitchens
As mentioned, standing up and walking becomes an arduous task typically as age increases. The walking stick is usually an immediate fix to help with walking, but it is not enough to help them while cooking.
A walker for your older parents is usually a better option if they like to spend some time in the kitchen. The walker has four legs, providing enough balance for the elderly to stand firm. It adds the functions of a grab bar to a walking stick.
The older adult is always in the middle of the walker, so they can grab the stainless steel at the top when they’re feeling weak.
Using the walker is not complicated; it only requires experience. All the older adult needs to do is move the walker in their target direction before moving their legs.
For your old parents, I recommend Drive Medical RTL10266-T Nitro DLX Foldable Rollator Walker with Seat (available on Amazon.com). This walker has a seat that allows them to enjoy a deserved rest after walking. Moreover, it weighs less than 18 pounds (8 kg), making it easy to push on its tires.
7. Buy a Pot and Pan Protector
The hands and other parts of the body grow weak as we age. As a result, they can’t handle extreme temperatures as well as they used to.
Therefore, I recommend purchasing AORTDES Silicone Cooking Pinch Grips (available on Amazon.com) to help your parents grab things quickly. These grips will work well on both hands, providing maximum comfort.
8. Always Supervise Their Cooking
If you want to protect your elder parents, you must watch their cooking closely. I know how annoying the elderly can be when they want to do something themselves; however, allowing them to experience their independence is just as important as making sure they’re okay along the way.
Some of the things you may want to watch while they cook include:
- Watch their clothing. Ensure the older adult has short sleeves on and their clothes stay fit.
- Ensure their hair is out of the way.
- Ensure they start with the burner at the back of the stove, reducing the chances of injuries.
- Remove all materials that can burn
- Clean the gas top regularly.
Unfortunately, most stoves can’t shut off automatically, but you can implement different safety mechanisms like reminders, stove shut-off devices, and induction stoves. Read my guide to learn how to install them. Can Stoves Automatically Shut Off for the Elderly?
Conclusion
Having an elder use the stove by themselves can often be dangerous.
However, your parents are your first love, so you’ll want to ensure their happiness and safety. Here are some tips to ensure your elderly parents stay safe using the stove;
- Install an anti-tip bracket.
- Clean the stove correctly and regularly.
- Purchase protective gear for fingers
- Have a walker and grab bars installed in the kitchen.
- Most importantly, have someone supervise their cooking.
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