Microwaves have become a must-have appliance for many households, for it offers us a convenient and effective way to cook. We could use a microwave to reheat and make easy meals in a matter of a few minutes.
However, if you are trying to find the best microwave oven for dementia patients, things could become challenging.
In this blog post, we are going to talk about if it is safe for elderly people with dementia to use microwaves. Also, we will list the best microwave ovens for dementia sufferers available today.
Can Dementia Patients Use the Microwave?
If you are wondering whether dementia sufferers are capable of using a microwave to cook, I’m afraid I have to tell you that there is no absolute answer to the question.
Individuals with dementia’s ability to use the microwave varies according to the stage and progression of their condition.
Dementia patients in the early stages may have the capacity to use the microwave to cook simple meals. However, dementia patients may struggle with following instructions and making decisions when dementia develops.
Also, it could be unsafe for dementia sufferers to cook without necessary support and guidance.
Therefore, we would strongly recommend you to talk to the doctor first to see if it is safe for a certain dementia patient to cook with a microwave.
And it would be great if the family could create a safe cooking environment and necessary support for seniors with dementia when they are using the microwave.
3 Best Microwave Ovens for Dementia Patients
Having the proper microwave for dementia patients can remarkably enhance their cooking experience. And it would be much safer for them to cook with the right microwave oven.
When you are shopping for a microwave for the elderly with dementia, you should always prioritize ease of use and safety.
We would also recommend you to involve the dementia patient during the shopping process. At the end of the day, the microwave oven is for them to use. It’s very important to take their preference, abilities and suggestions into consideration.
Commercial Chef CHMH900B6C Countertop Microwave
The Commercial Chef CHMH900B6C is a perfect solution for people with dementia to make easy meals. The reason lies in that it is extremely easy to use, and has an overall simple design.
It has a capacity of 0.9 cu. Ft.. It’s not too large and not too small. Therefore, it won’t take much time to clean up after cooking. And at the same time, it could satisfy the cooking needs of individuals and small families.
Dementia patients would appreciate the ease of use of this microwave oven. It has only two dial knobs for cooking controls, which makes it easier for dementia patients to use the microwave.
TOSHIBA ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Countertop Microwave
This microwave oven by Toshiba is an excellent choice for elderly people with dementia because it allows for auditory assistance via smart devices.
The microwave oven can work with Alexa. Therefore, when it’s paired with Alexa Echo, dementia patients can enjoy the voice activation of the microwave via smartphone or smart speaker.
The best part about the smart feature is that it could avoid decision making. For example, if the individual with dementia wants to reheat a bowl of soup and they can’t decide how much time it will take.
They can just say to the smartphone or Alexa Echo, “Alexa, microwave a bowl of soup”. Then, the microwave would start cooking with appropriate settings. This could make things a lot easier for dementia sufferers to cook with the microwave.
Also the microwave boasts a smart sensor cooking feature. The humidity sensor could detect the humidity released by the food while cooking. And then to automatically adjust cooking power to achieve better results. It’s another great feature to avoid guesswork as well.
GE Smart Countertop Microwave Oven
Just like the previous option, the microwave oven by GE is another smart microwave that can work with smart home devices. It would work perfectly for dementia because it has a range of helpful features.
For starters, the microwave can be connected with Alexa & Google Assistant. When it’s connected with your smart home devices and your smartphone, you can enjoy the voice command effortlessly.
What’s more, there is a scan-to-cook technology to make cooking even easier. All you need to do is to scan the barcode of the frozen food with your smartphone.
And then, the microwave is going to automatically defrost and prepare the frozen food with proper cooking time and power.
Altogether, these smart features of the microwave would help dementia patients to cook with ease.