Low-risk AT for the kitchen.

Welcome to our quick guide on low-risk assistive technology (AT) solutions for the kitchen, part of our AT for everyday living series. This resource explores simple, off-the-shelf items that can help older people perform daily kitchen tasks independently. It also provides practical insights for care professionals to use these tools alongside other reablement strategies effectively.

On this page, you will discover simple low-risk assistive technology (AT) to help older people perform daily kitchen tasks independently.

The ability to cook and prepare food is fundamental to a person’s overall health. Not only does food fulfil the basic human need for nourishment, but coming up with recipes, chopping ingredients, and other essential aspects of food preparation can also enhance a person’s:

Coordination and fine motor skills
Mental focus and problem-solving skills
Confidence and sense of accomplishment

More information about physical, cognitive, and social-emotional benefits of cooking can be found in our Reablement Essentials handout.

Low-risk AT is a reablement strategy, as it provides practical support for older people to regain or maintain their confidence and capacity to do things for themselves.

This resource will also explore other reablement strategies that can be used alongside AT to help older people safely and confidently navigate the kitchen, including:

Build capacity
Modify the task
Adapt the environment
Provide information

If you don’t know what ‘low-risk AT’ means or are unfamiliar with these reablement strategies, don’t worry – you will learn about them in the next section.

By the end of this page, you will have the knowledge and confidence to work with your clients to identify useful AT and other reablement strategies that can promote their independence in the kitchen.

Low-risk AT and complementary reablement strategies:

Pouring and measuring liquids

These items can help people who experience difficulty pouring liquids, which may be due to tremors (shaking), poor vision, poor coordination, or weakness or joint pain in their hands and arms.

A plastic handle that attaches to square cartons to help with pouring

Carton holder

This plastic handle can attach to square cartons to assist people with small hands or hand weakness in securely lifting and pouring from the carton.

A raised titling platform to help people pour from kettles without lifting

Kettle tipper

This raised tilting platform helps people with weakness, joint pain, or poor coordination pour from their kettle without lifting. It’s ideal for people who don’t want to replace their kettle.

This lightweight kettle is nestled on a rotating base to help with pouring

Uccello kettle

This lightweight kettle, nestled on a rotating base, allows people with weakness, joint pain, or poor coordination to pour hot water without lifting or straining.

A liquid decanter that attaches to the tops of bottles to allow for easy pouring

Liquid decanter system

This product allows users to pour liquids directly into a glass without lifting heavy bottles. However, it requires regular cleaning and maintenance by someone with suitable strength and coordination.

Liquid level finder

This battery-operated device may be helpful for people with visual impairments. It attaches to the rim of a cup and alerts users when the cup is safely full.

Talking kitchen scales with a measuring jug

Talking scales

These battery-operated scales may be helpful for people with visual impairments. They speak to the user, announcing in a clear voice how much weight is in the jug.

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Opening cans, jars, and packaging

These items can help people who experience difficulty opening cans, bottles, and other packaging. Such difficulties can be caused by poor dexterity, coordination, or weakness or joint pain in the hands and arms.

Ring-pull can opener

Helpful for people who have weakness or pain in their fingers, this device offers extra leverage to open ring pull cans without straining the fingers and wrists.

Long-handled can opener

Can openers with large handles offer greater leverage and a more comfortable grip, which can help reduce fatigue and strain in people with sore or weak hands.

A black can opener with a locking mechanism

Locking can opener

This device fastens to the top of the can and holds it in place while the user turns the knob, reducing the need for a tight grip and potentially alleviating wrist pain.

Automatic can opener

This device may be helpful for people with limited potential to improve their hand function. For example, if they have rheumatoid arthritis. See ‘Considerations before use’ below for more information.

Jar key

This device hooks under jar lids and helps break the seal on jars that have never been opened before, allowing the jar to be opened with less force and effort.

An orange dome-shaped device being used to open a jar lid

Jar lid gripper

This device allows the user to get a better grip on slippery jar lids and open them with less effort while also maintaining strength in their hands and wrists.

A jar opener with a knob that can be adjusted to fit various jar lids

Gripper jar opener

This device has three jaws that can grip jar lids of various sizes, depending on how much the knob is turned. The long handle provides extra leverage for easy opening.

Non-slip mat

Non-slip mats can be used to grip jar or bottle lids. They can also be placed under jars and bottles to enhance their stability and the user’s grip on them. See ‘Considerations before use’ for cleaning advice.

A long-handled device with rounded hooks on one end to help open cartons

Carton opener

This device has a curved top with two hooks – one big, one small. The big hook can slit the tabs apart, while the small hook can pull the tabs open to form a spout.

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Safety in the kitchen

These items can benefit people with poor coordination, limited use of one hand, reduced hand and upper limb strength, or a lack of confidence in handling heavy and/or hot items in the kitchen.

Steamer basket

This lightweight basket eliminates the need to carry heavy saucepans full of hot contents. Before moving the basket around the kitchen, consider placing it on a folded tea towel to dry the base and reduce the risk of spills that can cause slips.

A frame that attaches to stovetops and keeps pans in place

Pan holder

This device has suction cups that stick to the stovetop. It helps secure pans in place. It’s beneficial to people with limited use of one hand e.g., due to stroke or fracture. Not suitable for use with induction hobs.

A saucepan being carried with and placed on colourful silicone mats

Non-slip silicone mats

These heat-resistant mats can be used under pots and pans to stop them from sliding on bench tops. They are flexible, so they can also be used to grip pot and pan handles securely.

Oven gloves or mitts

Wearable oven gloves can provide a more secure grip when handling hot items. Whether the gloves are made of fabric or silicone is often a matter of personal preference for the user. See ‘Considerations before use’ for more information.

A hand in a silver cut-resistant glove grating cheese

Cut-resistant gloves

These gloves feature fibreglass-reinforced strands that provide a durable barrier against sharp objects while allowing the hand to move freely. They may be helpful for people with fragile skin or poor coordination.

Two long red silicone guards attached to two oven racks

Silicone oven rack guards

These heat-resistant guards attach to the edges of oven racks and protect the hands and arms from burns. Please note that some of these guards are only suitable for use up to 200 degrees.

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Food preparation

These items can benefit people with poor coordination, joint pain, limited use of one hand, or reduced strength in the hands and upper limbs.

A large-grip spatula, peeler, and ice cream scoop

Large-grip/Soft-touch utensils

Utensils with large grips can be easier to control and can reduce strain for people experiencing weakness, pain, or restricted movement in their hands or hand joints.

Buttering boards

This device has a raised L-shape in one corner that secures bread in place, allowing the person to apply spreads with one hand. It’s useful for people with limited use of one hand.

A slicing guide with a handle and several prongs to hold food items in place

Vegetable holder

This device is useful for people with reduced fine motor skills. It holds the food item in place and guides the knife blade, allowing the user to keep their hand clear of potential injury.

A food preparation board with spikes and a clamp function

Food preparation boards

This device has four suction feet to secure it to the bench during use. The spikes and clamp components can be used to hold food in place for cutting and peeling.

A knife with the handle at a right angle to the blade

Reflex knives

These knives have an easy-grip handle positioned at an angle from the blade. They allow the wrist to remain in a neutral position, making them useful for people with joint pain and upper limb weakness.

Adult safe knife

Designed for adults, this knife has rounded serrations that can cut through all types of food, but not fingers. It’s excellent for people with visual impairment, movement disorders, or poor coordination.

Scissors with a spring between the handles for easy opening and closing

Self-opening scissors

These scissors have a spring-loaded self-opening handle and can be closed with a light squeeze. They are useful for people with poor coordination or weakness and pain in the hands or hand joints, especially in the thumb.

Bread slicing guide

This plastic bread holder and slicing guide allows bread to be sliced safely and accurately. It’s particularly helpful for people with poor coordination.

A rocking knife with two handles on either side

Mezzaluna chopper

Unlike a knife, this two-handled food chopper uses a rocking motion to finely chop herbs quickly and conveniently. It reduces strain on the wrist and finger joints.

Manual food chopper

This manual food chopper uses a pumping mechanism to chop small items. It’s ideal for people who can no longer use a knife. It can be operated with both hands at the same time to reduce strain on the joints.

Maximise the benefits of this AT with these considerations and reablement strategies:

Vision impairment

Vision changes are common with ageing. These items can help people with blurred vision or reduced visual fields, such as in macular degeneration. Check care plans for conditions like cataracts or glaucoma, as vision impairment may be overlooked without a diagnosis.