Eating, drinking and cooking
If you have no one to help you with food and drink, you do have various options.
What you can do to help yourself at home
If you are having problems preparing drinks and meals, kitchen equipment is widely available to help you, such as:
- Home helper trolleys - to transfer meals and drinks from kitchen to living or dining room.
- Dycem non-slip mats - to reduce the movement of bowls, pans or plates, making it easier to mix, stir and eat one handed.
- Electric can openers - these assist with opening cans. You can open ring pull food cans by turning the can upside down, and opening the base.
- Two handled cups - these assist with drinking, if poor grip or weakness in your fingers or hands is a problem.
- Plate guards - these attach to a plate, allowing the guard to be used to help with the picking up of food one handed.
- Tap turners - these turn ordinary taps in to lever taps, for people with poor grip.
- Universal knob turners - these make it easier to turn stubborn knobs or switches.
- Chip baskets - if carrying pans full of food and water is a problem, a chip basket in the pan means food can be removed without lifting the whole pan.
- Kettle tippers - these are available for those who have problems lifting heavy, water filled kettles. Alternatively, only fill the kettle with enough water for whatever you need, thereby reducing the weight.
- Smaller utensils - if utensils start to get too heavy, they can be replaced with smaller, lighter ones.
- Microwaves - these can cook using less water than pans, so will be lighter.
- Easy grip cutlery - this should make mealtimes easier.
These products are available from most mobility shops, and some high street shops.
The Disabled Living Foundation produces a range of factsheets, which may give you more suggestions and ideas on how to make cooking and eating easier.
If you have some tips that help you with this, let us know and we can publish them here.
If it's difficult to keep food and drink down, you have difficulty swallowing, you have lost your appetite or you have stomach troubles, go and see your doctor.
If you can't see dials and labels clearly, read our sight loss page.
There are different ways that you may be able to help yourself. You can find some suggestions on our meals page. If none of these suggestions help, then you should contact us.
Storage and food preparation can be difficult in a standard kitchen, if shelves and worktops are at the wrong height. Store things at the top of the kitchen cupboards under the worktop or at the bottom of wall cupboards. Using stepladders in the kitchen is dangerous - if you need to reach up, contact us.
Ordering in
Most supermarkets now offer online shopping and home delivery. Some companies deliver healthy, nutritious meals to your home, which you can then cook when you want. Some local takeaways will also deliver to your door.
Eating out
Many food outlets offer midweek discounts, which can make eating out cheaper, as well as a good way to meet up with friends. Travel help may be available to get you there and back. There are also a number of luncheon clubs around the city, offering cheap, healthy, hot meals, and a chance to catch up.
What we can do to help you?
If you want more advice or you feel that you need more support, use our online enquiry form or contact us. We may be able to assess your situation and discuss the type of support you need.
Who else can help?
- Disabled Living will advise you on the best equipment to use
- The British Red Cross has an online catalogue
Who to contact
- Name
- Adult Social Care Contact Team
- Address
- Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5AW
Map to this location - Telephone
- 0161 909 6517
- social.services@salford.gov.uk
- Minicom
- 0161 909 6527
This page was last updated on 23 January 2012
