Dishwashers
How much would it take to make dish washing easier? Only about eight inches!
It's simple. Raise your dishwasher eight inches off the floor and you'll feel like you have cut your dish chores in half. You won't have to bend and stoop so much, and that will make all the difference. While you're at it, leave a space next to the dishwasher where you can pull up a chair. Then, an older relative can sit down to load and unload dishes. Or, a family member who uses a wheelchair will be able to help with kitchen chores.
Are you shopping for a new dishwasher? Keep these ideas in mind when you go to the store:
Look for button controls. Some dishwashers have a large knob that you have to turn to start the wash cycle. These knobs are hard to handle for people with small hands. They can be impossible for those who have arthritis. A plastic pad with push buttons is a better choice.
Take your dishwasher shelves out for a spin before you hand over your money. Make sure you can slide them in and out without any trouble. You need to be able to pull each shelf all the way out, even when it is full. That's the only way you'll reach every dish.
Go for a quiet dishwasher. Buy an "ultra quiet" one if you can find it. These washers won't get on your nerves. You'll still be able to talk on the phone while they do their thing. Is there a family member who has trouble hearing over background noise? He or she will like the quiet model too.
Why Settle for Average?
Try thinking "outside the box" when you go shopping for a dishwasher. It might help you find a unit that's best for you.
Have all the kids moved out of the house? If so, why not buy a smaller dishwasher? It will use less water and power. It will take up less space. And, you can put it wherever you want. Try it on a countertop. Or, mount it on the wall at a comfortable height. You'll never have to bend over to get a clean fork.
Some dishwashers fit into what looks like a regular kitchen drawer. You load these "dish drawers" by sliding them out of your cabinet. If one is too small, buy two! A unit that has two drawers holds as many dishes as your old washer.
AARP Resources
Fixing
to Stay
Read about what Americans over age 45 are doing now to make sure
they can stay at home for as long as possible.
Talking to Older Parents About Independence
Get tips on how to talk with your parents about their health,
finances, and day-to-day capabilities.
This Bold House
AARP The Magazine shares some ideas on making a house truly
accessible.
Other Resources
The
Accessible Kitchen
Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio provides a complete guide
to designing an accessible kitchen.
Universal
Design
Kansas State University provides tips for making homes more
livable.
Bright Ideas for the Kitchen
Visit this "Gallery of Bright Ideas" for some tips on
kitchen design.
Books
Find these books online at Barnes & Noble.com.
Universal Kitchen and Bathroom Planning
Mary Jo Jo Peterson, National Kitchen and Bath Association, The
McGraw-Hill Companies, June 1998
Accessible Housing by Design: Universal Design Principles in
Practice
Steven Winter Association, The McGraw-Hill Companies, May 1997
Building for A Lifetime: The Design and Construction of Fully
Accessible Homes
Margaret Wylde, Taunton Press, Incorporated, December 1993
