How can I make my kitchen lighting more accessible?

Shelley Peterman Schwarz

Neurology

Here are some tips for making your kitchen lighting more accessible:

Make sure you have enough light. Someone who is 80 years old needs at least three times the light to see than a 20-year-old. Use bright bulbs in overhead lights to avoid shadows that might cause tripping hazards. If more light is needed, install additional task lighting or try a goose-necked fixture, perhaps with a magnifying mirror (like the ones architects use), over the main food preparation area.
Install LED task lighting under all upper cabinets where it will light the work space without shinning in your eyes. Consider a row of tube or “chaser lights” around the edge of any peninsulas or islands so that they can be easily seen in low light.
Increase natural light. In addition to illuminating the space, natural light has profound psychological benefits for everyone. Enlarge windows or add French doors and skylights to bring sunlight into the room. Also, sheer curtains will muffle sharp outdoor sounds without reducing the light too much.

More About this Book

Home Accessibility (300 Tips for Making Life Easier)

Written by the best-selling author of Multiple Sclerosis: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier and Parkinson's Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier, Home Accessibility: 300 Tips for Making Life...

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Physical Disabilities

Physical disabilities can be sensory, where there are problems with sight, hearing or speech, or they may impair motor function, so that movement is restricted or imprecise. Injuries may cause a disability, and disease such as a heart condition may also make normal exertion impossible. Some disabilities start at birth - congenital disabilities. Others are acquired during life. If you have a disability, it is almost certain that there are many others who do also. Most conditions have support groups or associations that have grown up relating to the problem. These groups may offer specialized help to minimize the effect of the condition.

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