Design Your Kitchen For the Future

A well-designed kitchen can make cooking and entertaining more enjoyable. So if you're considering remodeling the kitchen, your focus is probably cosmetic. However, as your parents get older, there are safety issues to consider, too.

In the January/February 2008 issue, I described some of the design issues that can get in the way of seniors accessing the bathroom safely and comfortably as they age. This time around, I'm going to look in on the kitchen.

As you read this article, consider the safety and convenience features I'll be discussing as not only useful for your parents, but for yourself as well. Many design features can make the kitchen more comfortable and functional now, while still providing for changes you might experience as you get older.

Designing for functionality

Scott Funk, an aging advocate from Vermont, recently wrote, "It is by adjustment and accommodation we maintain youthfulness and agility. Time is like an opponent in judo. Resistance can wear us out and accomplishes little; but if we accept changes, we can stay independent longer." Designing (or redesigning) a kitchen for functionality fits this viewpoint perfectly. If you want to continue to enjoy the space, you must think about more than the color of the backsplash and the style of the cabinets. And, if you, like many Boomers, are electing to have your parents come live with you, kitchens that let everyone contribute can help members of the extended family feel they belong.