Cooking is one of those activities that you might not think twice about, but if it’s painful for your senior, she might skip it. Arthritis makes all sorts of daily activities, including cooking even a small meal, really painful and difficult to do.
Use Tools that Require Less Dexterity
Ergonomic cooking utensils, like spoons and whisks that have larger handles, can make it easier for your senior to grip them. Likewise, chopping tools and food processors can make using a knife less necessary and therefore less painful. Look for tools that help your senior to do what she needs to do but that don’t require her to injure herself in the process.
Choose Pots and Pans with Double the Handles
Pots and pans can be difficult for your senior to move, even when they’re empty. Full of hot food, that can be incredibly dangerous. Look for pots and pans that have double handles on even the smaller pots. This gives your senior a way to balance the weight of the full pan more readily.
Keep a Stool Handy
If your aging family member gets worn out easily, then standing in the kitchen to cook may not be helpful. She may also have arthritis in her lower body, which means that standing for even a few minutes in one position can be extremely painful. Put a stool or two in the kitchen so that she can sit or lean when she needs to do so.
Rearrange the Kitchen a Bit
Where your senior store’s items matters. Make sure that the items that she uses frequently are easiest to access. Put heavier items on lower shelves and if you can, replace them with similar tools and devices that are less heavy. You might also want to consider installing rolling inserts in cabinets that help to bring items closer to your senior so she doesn’t have to bend and stoop so far.
Hire Elder Care Providers
Another option is to hire elder care providers to take over the cooking for your senior. They can help to ensure that she’s eating regular meals that are full of healthy foods and that she’s not putting herself into a bad situation while she’s cooking. They can also make cleaning up a breeze by taking care of it for your senior.
Check in with your senior periodically and determine what else can help her to cook more easily and without pain. The solutions that you put into place can help to ensure that she continues to choose healthy meals full of nutritional ingredients.
If you or a family member are in need of Elderly Care in Aventura, FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770.
Providing service in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, and Wilton Manors.
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