Aging-in-place guide
Aging-in-place kitchens in New Bern
An aging-in-place kitchen is planned so you can keep cooking comfortably as your reach, balance and eyesight change. It can look like any handsome kitchen. Done well, nobody notices the difference except you. Call now to talk it through with a local kitchen remodeler.
Why plan now
The best time is before you need it
Many people retire to Craven County for the rivers and the slower pace. In Trent Woods, nearly a third of residents were 65 or older in the 2020 census. In Fairfield Harbour, it was more than half. A lot of those homes have kitchens built for younger knees: low cabinets, high shelves, an oven at floor level and tight corners.
It is far easier to make these changes while you are well and can choose at leisure than after a fall or a surgery. If a remodel is already on your list, adding these features costs much less now than it will later on, because the walls are already open and the cabinets are already being ordered.
This is not about making a kitchen look like a hospital. Everything on this page can be done with the same cabinets, counters and hardware you would choose anyway.
What to change
Reach, bending and light
Think about what is getting harder, or what you can see becoming harder. Then pick from this list.
| Daily problem | Kitchen change | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bending to low cabinets | Deep drawers in the base cabinets | Everything comes to you, and you can see it from above |
| Lifting hot pans from a low oven | Wall oven at waist height, or a side-opening oven | Leave counter space beside it to set things down |
| Bending to load dishes | A raised dishwasher or dishwasher drawers | Needs a cabinet plan from the start |
| Reaching high shelves | Lower wall cabinets, a tall pull-out pantry | Keep daily dishes between hip and shoulder height |
| Sore hands | Lever faucet, D-shaped pulls instead of knobs | A simple upgrade in any size of project |
| Dim corners and tired eyes | Under-cabinet lights, brighter ceiling lights | Contrast at counter edges also helps |
| Standing a long time | A lower counter with knee space and a chair | Good for prep work and for sitting with a coffee |
| Slips and trips | Matte, slip-resistant flooring with no thresholds | Avoid loose rugs at the sink |
Measurements
Room to move
The National Kitchen and Bath Association's planning guidelines recommend a walkway of at least 36 inches, a work aisle of at least 42 inches for one cook and 48 inches for two. Those are recommendations for any kitchen. If a walker or wheelchair might be part of the future, ask for more, and ask an occupational therapist to look at your plan.
Older New Bern homes often have narrow kitchens and narrow doorways. That can be the main challenge, more than any appliance. Before you spend on finishes, check that you can get through the kitchen door and turn around easily. Widening an opening or moving a peninsula can do more for you than anything else on this page.
Many homes here also sit up on crawl spaces, with steps at every door. A new kitchen helps less if you cannot easily get to it. If you are making long-term plans, ask about the path from the car to the kitchen too.
Phases
You do not have to do it all at once
Small jobs
Lever faucet, D-pulls, brighter bulbs, under-cabinet lights, a pull-out shelf or two. A handyman-sized job with a real daily payoff.
Medium jobs
Replace the base cabinets with drawers, add a lower counter section and change the flooring. Often done alongside new counters.
Full plan
Move the oven, widen aisles and doorways, and rework the layout. Permits and more trades come into it, so give it more time.
On your call
What to ask a remodeler
- Have you planned a kitchen for someone staying long term? What did you change?
- What would you do first if the budget only stretched to one or two changes?
- Where would you add blocking in the walls so that grab bars or rails can go in later?
- Will this plan work with a walker? What about a wheelchair?
- Can the kitchen stay partly usable during the work, or do I need a place to stay?
- Can I see a written price and check your license and insurance before I decide?
Common questions
What is the first thing to change in a kitchen for aging in place?
For most people, lighting and storage. Better light is inexpensive. Swapping low cabinets for drawers saves the most bending, and that is a daily benefit.
Will an aging-in-place kitchen hurt my resale value?
Generally not if it looks like a normal kitchen. Drawers, good lighting, wide aisles and wall ovens appeal to buyers of any age.
Is an aging-in-place kitchen more expensive?
It can be. Wall ovens and raised dishwashers cost more than standard units, and they need more cabinet work. Drawers cost more than doors. Small changes such as lever faucets and D-pulls add very little.
Can I stay at home during the work?
On a small job, usually. On a larger one you may lose the kitchen for weeks, and dust and tools can be a hazard for anyone with mobility trouble. Ask how the work will be separated from the rest of your home.