KITCHEN AIDS FOR YOUR FAVORITE SENIOR CHEF
If you're looking for senior-appropriate gift ideas, how about something your loved one can use every day in the kitchen to make meal prep easier and safer. Arthritis, low vision, stroke, Parkinson’s or early stage dementia can make everyday tasks challenging for older adults. Here are some simple kitchen aids for seniors, most available on Amazon, that increase safety, prevent accidents, and help them stay independent longer.
Being able to perform everyday tasks on their own boosts Seniors’ self-esteem. If they love food and enjoy cooking, increasing their safety in the kitchen will give you peace of mind. Some of these items are very inexpensive and can be combined into attractive gift baskets with specialty foods and non-alcoholic wine:
- Cut resistant gloves, veggie chopper and palm peelers
- Knob turners, jar openers, and shelf reachers
- Boil over guards and electric water kettles
- Google’s stabilizing “Liftware” for those with hand tremors (spoon and fork available)
- Aprons with matching oven mitts and add an oven rack guard
- Large print cookbooks
- Annual subscriptions to fruit deliveries
- Gift cards to the local gourmet market for pre-prepped foods
- Keurig Mini and box of pods
- Instant Pot
Remember Visiting Angels companionship services include transportation to the supermarket and help with meal prep and clean up in addition to the usual assistance with bathing, dressing, reminders for medications and help with mobility.
Don’t have a cook in the family? Try these ideas:
1. Holiday CDs and battery operated CD player
2. Books on tape, or Kindle
3. Custom photo albums or photo calendar
4. Tech gifts for savvy Seniors like Amazon Echo
5. Jitterbug flip phone for the elderly
6. Talking watch that tells the time and date
7. Lyft or Uber card
8. Heated throw blankets
9. Large print playing cards or jigsaw puzzles
10. Robotic dog or cat, electronic companion pet
Don’t forget the best gift of all is the gift of your time. Be sure to schedule a few moments here and there to share in what makes the season so special.
Till next time!
Irv Seldin, JD
President and CEO of Visiting Angels of the Palm Beaches