Senior Kitchen Safety
By: J. Brooks
Updated: February 26, 2013
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County - 91-year-old Maryann Shoplick is on top of her game when it comes to keeping safe in the kitchen. "Every morning before I go out, I check the jets on the gas stove, make sure the fridge is right and the lights are out," says Shoplick.
The kitchen can turn into a dangerous place, especially for seniors with poor vision, poor balance or memory loss. Alyssa Maria from Home Instead Senior Care says, it's the senior's loved ones who worry most. "Leave the cooktop on, leave the oven on, God forbid have a fire. They're concerned with them using knives. You know food expiring, not eating healthy," says Maria.
Mark Hession knows that feeling all too well.
"I have a father-in-law who just turned 91. We kept him out of the kitchen now for a few years. The only thing he does is go in a sneak tabs of butter. He eats them like popsicle sticks," says Hension.
A stick of butter may give you a belly ache, but out dated foods can really make you sick. "He'd buy things and leave them in the fridge for six years. We'd have to go down and clean it out, but other than that no," says Hension.
Not checking the dates on perishable foods is a mistake seniors make too often. Another important tip is when using the stove top, you want to make sure you're not wearing loose clothing. A lot of people like to cook with robes on in the morning, and if you bend over you can actually catch it on fire.
"I don't, I always have dungarees and sleeves on pushed up," says Shoplick.
The kitchen can turn into a dangerous place, especially for seniors with poor vision, poor balance or memory loss. Alyssa Maria from Home Instead Senior Care says, it's the senior's loved ones who worry most. "Leave the cooktop on, leave the oven on, God forbid have a fire. They're concerned with them using knives. You know food expiring, not eating healthy," says Maria.
Mark Hession knows that feeling all too well.
"I have a father-in-law who just turned 91. We kept him out of the kitchen now for a few years. The only thing he does is go in a sneak tabs of butter. He eats them like popsicle sticks," says Hension.
A stick of butter may give you a belly ache, but out dated foods can really make you sick. "He'd buy things and leave them in the fridge for six years. We'd have to go down and clean it out, but other than that no," says Hension.
Not checking the dates on perishable foods is a mistake seniors make too often. Another important tip is when using the stove top, you want to make sure you're not wearing loose clothing. A lot of people like to cook with robes on in the morning, and if you bend over you can actually catch it on fire.
"I don't, I always have dungarees and sleeves on pushed up," says Shoplick.
