People have different views on things.  I’m not talking about the difference of opinions, but literally different physical views on the world.  A person who is 5’2” tall will view something at a different view than that of someone who is 6’3” tall.  Or a 5’7” person will see angles and heights differently than someone over 6’6” tall.  Don’t believe me?  Next time you sit down on your sofa to watch television, instead of sitting in the normal place upon the seat cushion, climb up on top of the back of the sofa and watch television.  It will look and seem a little strange.

When people are sitting in a wheelchair, be they 5’4” or 6’2”, they more than likely will be about the same height give or take a few inches, and when wheelchair-bound individuals are in a kitchen trying to cook up a meal, the ‘normal’ height of the kitchen appliances will be too high and awkward.  Trying to cook on a stove top when sitting in a wheelchair can be dangerous and frustrating, or trying to wash dishes in a kitchen sink can become difficult and messy.  And wanting to get something out of the kitchen cabinet while sitting in a wheelchair?  Forget about it.

What if the sink, stovetop and cabinets could come down to a height for a wheelchair user to easily operate and then be raised back up for the comfort of non-wheelchair using individuals?  Well now they can as Rehabmart is able to offer height-adjustable kitchen appliances for the whole family to use.

The Adjustable Motorized Sink Kit has the ability to raise and lower to heights that are convenient for wheelchair users and then back to the standard height for the rest of the family, all with the simple touch of a button.  At its lowest height of 28 inches, it is ideal for someone sitting in a chair or wheelchair.  It also has an ‘overhang’ so a seated person can get his or her knees closer to the sink.  The sink can be lowered or raised from 28 inches up to the standard height of 36 inches to be flush with the surrounding counters.  This kit has an automatic shutoff function that will prevent the sink from moving down if it hits any impediments that may be stored under the sink.  This sink can be assembled within four hours and a drain kit is included.

The Height Adjustable Cooktop Kit can be a wonderful assistance to any cooks, no matter if they are standing or sitting.  The lower position allows a person in a wheelchair to safely see into a pot of boiling water or to flip a frying pan full of hamburgers.  With the ample knee space underneath the stovetop, a wheelchair-bound individual can get up close, allowing him or her to cook and become more independent from others. The cooktop can also be raised to the standard height, which will allow the other family members to prepare meals too.  As with the adjustable sink, the cooktop has an automatic shutoff feature that will stop the downward movement if it encounters some object.  The Height Adjustable Cooktop Kit can be used with either an existing electric or gas cooking range and has an adjustable height between 28 inches and 36 inches.

The Height Adjusting Cabinet Kit can bring the kitchen contents from up on the wall down to a standard height counter of 34 inches high.  With a simple press of a button the Approach™ cabinet lift system can offer the wheelchair bound person the ability to retrieve food stuffs or dishes without reaching and straining, allowing more independence and freedom.  There is also a safety feature of an automatic shut-off if there happens to be something like a blender or toaster on the counter, the cabinet will shut-off and stop its downward advance instead of mashing the counter-top appliances. 

These height-adjustable kitchen appliances can help create a proud independence for wheelchair users or weakened individuals to cook and clean for themselves while also making everybody feel like a more productive part of the family.  With just a simple push of a button, a meal can now be more safely and comfortably prepared and cooked by just about anybody.

 
Bill Stock
Executive Editor,
Content & Social Media Services
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO