Page 56 - Petelin, Ana, and Šarabon, Nejc. 2018. Eds. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Znanstvena monografija / Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 56
avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 56 had been anticipated that senior users would be more dissatisfied by the func-
tionality of their kitchen, as they tend to suffer from restricted agility, sight
and/or memory issues... They become used to their kitchens and have limited
desire for change. They typically attribute the problems they face when using
their kitchen to their advancing age but are unaware that their problems could
be decreased if the space were adapted to their needs. Therefore, household-
ers over the age of 55 should already be looking into kitchens that are adapted
for use by senior citizens to become accustomed to it whilst they are still active
and will get used to new environments with greater ease (Hrovatin et al., 2012).
Our research shows that 56 % of respondents have an inappropriate work
surface arrangement. A more functional and safer kitchen working environ-
ment is gained by appropriately arranging its elements. Particularly important
is the arrangement of the kitchen sink, the main work surfaces and stove (Hro-
vatin et al., 2015). An appropriate arrangement is one which allows the user to
remain in one spot whilst preparing food (slicing, cutting, peeling, washing),
whilst and at the same time monitoring the food that is already being cooked
(stirring, adding). Additionally, the adjacent position of the sink and stove
would mean that the user needs to travel a shorter distance if he or she needs to
pour away boiling water. Elderly tend to have sight and agility problems, which
compounds the problem of slippery floors in a kitchen. Every year, 30 % of us-
ers over the age of 65 experience a fall in their kitchen, a danger that can lead to
serious injury or even death (Stevens, 2005). Our research shows that as many
as 72 % of users bump into open doors and various sharp edges during kitchen
work. That’s why design and ergonomy of the furniture is important.
It is assumed that in the future, so-called „intelligent“ technology will
make an important contribution to kitchen usage and will ease the workloads
of users. Very few of the respondents use a computer and was expected that
(79 %) would not want a robot in their kitchen. Many senior users have trou-
ble adapting to new technology, and most of them have no wish for it at all.
Now younger and middle aged are more familiar with computers so a robot-
ically-aided kitchen will be much more attractive to elderly users in the fu-
ture. „Smart“ kitchen appliances are step in this direction. Elderly with mem-
ory issues tend to leave stoves on, which can easily create a fire hazard. From
the point of view of safety, this means intelligent stoves with the option of set-
ting cooking times and automatic shut-off systems when operating with an
empty container or without one at all. Intelligent refrigerators are also a wel-
come addition, for example ones capable of ordering groceries on the internet
via a display on the refrigerator door. The refrigerator monitors one’s food in-
side via labels and barcodes, whilst also noting the purchase dates of products,
and then warning about the expiry date. Use is not complicated, and as senior
users tend to have problems with mobility, this addition could be of invaluable
help to them. Due to the senior users’ difficulties in keeping up with new tech-
nologies it would be necessary to carefully select those appliances that are easy
to use and have clear, intuitive interfaces (Hrovatin et al., 2012). It will be nec-
tionality of their kitchen, as they tend to suffer from restricted agility, sight
and/or memory issues... They become used to their kitchens and have limited
desire for change. They typically attribute the problems they face when using
their kitchen to their advancing age but are unaware that their problems could
be decreased if the space were adapted to their needs. Therefore, household-
ers over the age of 55 should already be looking into kitchens that are adapted
for use by senior citizens to become accustomed to it whilst they are still active
and will get used to new environments with greater ease (Hrovatin et al., 2012).
Our research shows that 56 % of respondents have an inappropriate work
surface arrangement. A more functional and safer kitchen working environ-
ment is gained by appropriately arranging its elements. Particularly important
is the arrangement of the kitchen sink, the main work surfaces and stove (Hro-
vatin et al., 2015). An appropriate arrangement is one which allows the user to
remain in one spot whilst preparing food (slicing, cutting, peeling, washing),
whilst and at the same time monitoring the food that is already being cooked
(stirring, adding). Additionally, the adjacent position of the sink and stove
would mean that the user needs to travel a shorter distance if he or she needs to
pour away boiling water. Elderly tend to have sight and agility problems, which
compounds the problem of slippery floors in a kitchen. Every year, 30 % of us-
ers over the age of 65 experience a fall in their kitchen, a danger that can lead to
serious injury or even death (Stevens, 2005). Our research shows that as many
as 72 % of users bump into open doors and various sharp edges during kitchen
work. That’s why design and ergonomy of the furniture is important.
It is assumed that in the future, so-called „intelligent“ technology will
make an important contribution to kitchen usage and will ease the workloads
of users. Very few of the respondents use a computer and was expected that
(79 %) would not want a robot in their kitchen. Many senior users have trou-
ble adapting to new technology, and most of them have no wish for it at all.
Now younger and middle aged are more familiar with computers so a robot-
ically-aided kitchen will be much more attractive to elderly users in the fu-
ture. „Smart“ kitchen appliances are step in this direction. Elderly with mem-
ory issues tend to leave stoves on, which can easily create a fire hazard. From
the point of view of safety, this means intelligent stoves with the option of set-
ting cooking times and automatic shut-off systems when operating with an
empty container or without one at all. Intelligent refrigerators are also a wel-
come addition, for example ones capable of ordering groceries on the internet
via a display on the refrigerator door. The refrigerator monitors one’s food in-
side via labels and barcodes, whilst also noting the purchase dates of products,
and then warning about the expiry date. Use is not complicated, and as senior
users tend to have problems with mobility, this addition could be of invaluable
help to them. Due to the senior users’ difficulties in keeping up with new tech-
nologies it would be necessary to carefully select those appliances that are easy
to use and have clear, intuitive interfaces (Hrovatin et al., 2012). It will be nec-
