Being in a wheelchair presents unique challenges. Many of those challenges happen in your very own home, and often with things that most take for granted. Something as simple as preparing lunch can become difficult if your kitchen is not equipped with wheelchair kitchen tools to help you with the task.
There are hundreds of kitchen gadgets on the market designed for those with disabilities. The best ones are often discovered by trial and error. These recommendations are an attempt to cull the best from a long list of available gadgets, thus making your decisions easier.
Some of the following tools are very simple and cost only a few dollars. Others are more elaborate and might require more of a monetary investment. All of them make life easier for those with mobility issues.
One of the simplest and most inexpensive kitchen gadgets you can buy, nonslip mats are useful for a wide variety of tasks in the kitchen. From holding a bowl steady while you mix the ingredients to providing more traction to open a stubborn jar, nonslip mats are a must-have wheelchair kitchen tool. They are easy to clean, easy to store and often cost on a few dollars. For the most convenience, choose thin nonslip mats that are sold in rolls, so you can cut a section that is the perfect size for your particular task. A good choice: Grip-It Shelf and Drawer Liner by MSM Industries.
One of the best ways to prepare food while in a wheelchair is with the use of a large, long cutting board. A sturdy cutting board that fits across the arms of your wheelchair, or across your knees, can provide a perfect workspace for slicing and dicing, as well as mixing things in bowls. If you are worried about keeping a knife steady on your cutting board, look into cutting boards that offer a place to attach the knife. These cutting boards often come with suction cups on the bottom to better hold the whole ensemble steady. A good choice: Cutting Board with Pivot Knife by Maxi-Aids.
There are a wide variety of automatic faucets available for those who have trouble working a normal lever or twist faucet handle. However, there is a big difference between replacing your old faucet and simply modifying it. More expensive options include controls that start the flow of water with a wave of your hand in front of a sensor, or faucets that turn on when you press a button. However, a cheap and simple automatic faucet control can be easily installed on your existing faucet to allow for water flow with a single touch. A good choice: Automatic Faucet Control by Maxi-Aids.
Reaching into a hot oven can be especially difficult for those in a wheelchair. If you are using a conventional oven, you must lean over the open door in order to reach the racks. With a push and pull stick, that problem is eliminated. Simply pull the oven rack out to the proper position (being careful not to pull too far!) and then reach over to lift the baking dish. The stick can also be used to push things into proper position. A good choice: Push and Pull Stick by Maxi-Aids.
If your stove has controls on the back rather than the front, reaching over the pots and pans can be a very difficult task for the wheelchair user. Relieve the heat on your hands and arms by using a stove knob turner. Often made of lightweight aluminum that will not twist or warp with the heat, a stove knob turner has a wide, easy-to-use handle. A good choice: Stove Knob Turner by Maxi-Aids.
A simple mirror might not seem like a kitchen gadget, but wait until you see what it does! An angled mirror attached above the stove can give you a clear view of what is cooking in the pot.
Attach a mirror over the sink for help in making sure your dishes are clean. In fact, an angled mirror attached above almost anything in your home can go a long way toward increasing what you can see. For safety, choose an unbreakable mirror. A good choice: Acrylic Wall Mirror by CutieBeauty.
Getting out the pan, turning on the burner, filling the pan with water, waiting for it to heat up – those actions can take an annoying amount of time. A hot water dispenser can make that cup of coffee or tea much easier to obtain. Simply pour water into the machine, turn it on and within 90 seconds, you have hot water. It is also perfect for instant oatmeal, soups and other foods that require the addition of hot water. Leave it on the kitchen counter for convenience or take it along with you when you travel. A good choice: The Hot Shot Beverage Maker by Sunbeam.
Reaching to the back of a shelf can be difficult for anyone. Make life easier with shelves that come to you. Pull out shelves can be easily added in your base cabinets, pantry, and anywhere else that shelves can be installed. They work by pulling out on runners, much like a basic drawer. To make life even easier, opt for cabinets with pull out shelves and no doors. A good choice: Finished Pre-Assembled Cabinet Pull-out Shelf by Rolling Shelves.
Choosing the right wheelchair kitchen tools can take some time. You might choose to try one item, find that it doesn’t work as well as you hoped, and get discouraged. Keep looking! Try the same type of gadget from a different manufacturer, or look for another type of gadget that might do the trick. Don’t be afraid to improvise – that’s how most of these gadgets were invented in the first place. It is always worth the time and effort, because finding the right kitchen gadgets can mean the difference between dreading meal preparation and having a pleasant experience.
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