Kitchen Safety Strategies: How Can Technology Support Aging Adults?

Innovative Aging: Kitchen Safety Strategies: How Can Technology Support Aging Adults? (Episode 5)

Audio Runtime: 45 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes

Akshita Iyer, CEO of Ome, joins host Carol Chiang to explore how smart kitchen technology can support older adults in maintaining safety and independence at home. Together, they reflect on personal and clinical stories that highlight the emotional weight of kitchen-related safety decisions and the rising role of tech in reducing caregiver burden. You’ll hear insights on assessing risk, tailoring solutions to individual needs, and using data to guide conversations around aging in place. Tune in for a practical, forward-thinking discussion that invites you to rethink how we approach home safety for aging adults.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the evidence around kitchen-related safety risks and their impact on aging in place
• Determine the situations in which smart kitchen technology provides the most benefit for reducing caregiver burden and supporting older adults’ safety during meal preparation
• Solve patient case scenarios involving cognitive, motor, or sensory challenges that increase kitchen safety risks in older adults

Guest Bio: Akshita Iyer is the founder and CEO of Ome, where she has spent the past eight years developing technology designed to make homes safer and support older adults in living independently for longer. Her work includes close collaboration with clinicians, senior living communities, and major appliance manufacturers to better understand the unique safety risks older adults face at home—particularly in the kitchen, the leading source of home fires. Under her leadership, Ome has undergone rigorous testing, built strategic partnerships, and launched pilot programs that underscore the need for accessible, affordable safety solutions. At the core of her work is a commitment to blending innovation with compassion, creating tools that protect while preserving dignity and independence for aging populations.

Disclosure: Our guest today is affiliated with a company that develops technology in the area we’re discussing. While we won’t be endorsing any specific product, listeners should be aware of this connection as part of our commitment to transparency.

This is an audio-only course. Additional materials are available for download within the course. To receive continuing education credit, complete the course and the accompanying quiz.