Designing Disabled Kitchens

https://www.facebook.com/Fit4Use

Disabled access to all areas of the home can be acheived by carefully designing for disabled and elderly people.

Designing disabled kitchens for physical disabilities can really help make everyday tasks that little bit easier. Many daily functions are performed in the kitchen from cooking to cleaning, washing up, preparation of food to simply making a cup of tea!

Fit 4 works in simple steps to answer queries raised by our customers

Query 1

I need simple advice, just don’t know what to chose-Simply get in touch, phone or email - One of our experienced Team will visit at your convenience and discuss your particular needs.

Fit 4 Use Design Team offer a FREE SURVEY so contact us to book today- you have nothing to lose

It might be simply a change of layout or lowering of some kitchen units. The photo above shows some of the possibilities, such as wheelchair access to the sink

Query 2

I want value for my money. We do the research of the best products for your needs. We take away the confusion and make sure that the right sink or layout of the kitchen works for your needs. It is customised to you not a standard layout

Independent and free survey, so there is no risk to you and all of the products are guaranteed.

Query 3

Understand my needs… We work with your GP and Occupational Therapist and make sure the solution is right 4 you. Your professionals will guide the design we will make that work in your home and ensure that you have the right space, e.g can access to cupboards and easy to reach work surfaces

Query 4

This must work in my home– Many years of experience designing for disabled people. We know what will work for each individual and meet building regs and Equality Act. Your needs are key and too often we see poor design with the wrong products in the wrong place. Our design Team see each home as specific to your needs

Query 5

What if I only want a small adjustment– We offer as much or as little as you want. We can design and organise all of the delivery and installation for any work, large or small

Click here to view the latest Disability Kitchen units. Also everything from jar openers to cutlery and plates designed especially to make life easier for the disabled person.

Kitchen equipment to make life easier From our partners AKW and Heat and Plumb.

There are adjustments that can be made that improve disabled access and use disabled kitchen design to reduce the effect of physical disability. This makes it easier for disabled people to access all part of their home and live as independently as possible.

A standard kitchen design layout can make it difficult for people with mobility issues in particular wheelchair users to carryout these daily functions. Which most of us, take for granted, simply because they cannot reach into the food cupboards or the power supply socket to switch on the kettle.

Over recent years this has begun to be addressed by companies introducing “specialist” disabled friendly kitchen designs and equipment to aid a disabled or elderly person in the kitchen, albeit at a cost.

Power assisted rise and fall systems and manual operations have been introduced to wall unit and sink units. They lower the units to within safe working reach of the disabled user.

However, these are top end costly solutions and not within the reach of the average consumer user- unless they are grant aided. Given current economic situation, obtaining grants is becoming more difficult.
Thoughtful design in a kitchen and attention to detail is paramount to providing easy access in and around the kitchen area, for a semi-ambulant and wheelchair user but also the whole family.

With careful planning the kitchen can be used easily by all members of the family not just the disabled  or elderly person

It does not have to cost a fortune to provide the required design layout to improve disabled access.

Careful consideration must be given to

• Positioning of each base unit, wall unit and siting of appliances
• Access into the kitchen area; consider if there
  is sufficient turning circle for a wheelchair etc. Width of doors and if the door opens into or out of the kitchen.

SIMPLE DISABLED DESIGN IDEAS :

Easy steps to offer better disabled access and use of design to overcome physical disability.

1. The sink unit can be made accessible to a wheelchair user by removing the base unit below for knee access. This enables the person to get closer to the sink.
2. Reducing the height of the sink unit by a small amount, approx 50mm, so that the lever taps to the
   sink are within arms length; this can be achieved without compromise to the other ambulant members of the family, carers etc using the sink.
3. The height of wall units can be reduced from their standard height of 450mm above worktop. So
   that a wheelchair user or a person with limited reach can open the door and access at least the bottom and middle shelves.
4. Lowering of worktops, a length of 900mm with clear access below is generally required for designated use by a wheelchair user to make a cup of tea and prepare food.

Many more simple cost effective solutions can be applied to the disabled design of the kitchen to help the disabled or elderly user perform their daily functions in the kitchen and
maintain their independence.

AKW is our preferred supplier of disabled kitchen equipment. They have a great deal of experience in disability and the easiest way to adapt your home. See how this can help you…
Disability Kitchen
At  Fit4 Use we can provide:-

• Design solutions from simple adjustments to existing kitchens to complete bespoke kitchen design solutions.

If you would like any more advice just email us at info@fit4use.com
Fit4 works with all of the key suppliers in the industry and advises on the most appropriate solution. We give you options and then it is your personal choice as in any kitchen.