7 Best Microwave for Elderly with Dementia in 2023

Galanz GLCMKZ09GNR09 Microwave Oven 

The first option I think is the best for elders is the Galanz GLCMKZ09GNR09 900 watts microwave oven. It doesn’t look like a modern microwave oven, but that’s the reason why I chose it. The design features a vintage and retro look that will appeal to any aged person. 

This 0.9 cubic feet microwave is easy to use, and the best part is the price is affordable. It’s not like one of those microwaves that cost an arm and leg. In this minimum budget, you’ll also get 7 auto cooking and 10 Auto reheat programs. 

Thanks to these automated programs, dementia patients don’t have to worry about setting the temperature themselves. What else can we ask for? 

1. Easy to use – It’s an easy-to-use microwave. The user interface is simple, with a small digital display. You can increase/decrease the timing for cooking with the help of the knob. The knob center is a quick 30+ second button; pressing this gives you extra time for cooking. 
2. Easy to clean – The microwave is super easy to clean. Inside, it has a removable 10.5″ inches 360-degree rotatable glass turntable. So once you reheat the food, you can take out this turntable and clean it with the help of a dishwasher. Besides that, the interior can be cleaned with a soft damp cloth. 
3. Portable and lightweight – The weight of the microwave oven is only about 25 lbs. While the overall size is 19 x 10.8 x 14.9 inches. Meaning you only need 20 inches of space length to fit the microwave. 
4. Cooking program & safety – It has 7 auto-cooking and 10 auto-reheating programs. Just select the program you want, and the rest of the process will be automated. For safety reasons, the oven is designed with a safety lock. 

My thoughts & Recommendation

Overall the microwave oven is great. It’s perfect for giving dementia patients a gift. The price is also normal, so it won’t affect your savings much. As far as the quality and the performance are concerned, both are outstanding. 

The only issue is that it may not be the best choice for an elder with a family. The size of the microwave is small, only suitable for someone who lives alone. 

Pros

• Vintage and retro design appeals to elderly
• Affordable price for budget-conscious customers
• 7 auto cooking and 10 auto reheat programs
• Easy-to-clean microwave
• Portable and lightweight for easy transport

Cons

• The size is small

Nostalgia Retro Countertop Microwave Oven

If you have elders at your home who often talk about their time and the appliances they used back then, this 0.9 cubic feet Nostalgia Retro microwave is perfect. You can see the image below and check how well it looks. 

Since it has fewer buttons, only one knob, and four switches, it will be easy to use. The display is super easy to read, making the cooking task simple for dementia patients. 

You’ll have pre-programmed cooking settings for pizza, potatoes, other veggies, etc. Let’s have a look at the other best features below. 

1. Easy to use – It’s an easy-to-use microwave oven with a simple and user-friendly interface. There are only four buttons and a knob that allow you to choose the preferable program and the time. On top of the knob, it has a LED digital display that shows the time and settings. 
2. Appealing & portable design – One thing I really like about the microwave is how it looks. First, the design, then its nostalgic look of early 20th-century microwaves, is perfect. It’s a portable microwave oven with 16.5 x 19.5 x 10.75 dimensions; the maximum space you need on the countertop is only about 20 inches. 
3. Pre-programmed settings – Although it’s inspired by early 20th-century microwaves, the setting is like any modern oven. It features 12 pre-programmed cooking settings for various items like pizza, potato, frozen food, etc. 
4. Cleaning and safety – it features a safety lock and beep sound function that alerts you when your food is cooked. The cleaning part is simple; you can remove the glass carousel and clean it with the help of soapy water. 

Conclusion 

So what’s my final opinion on the Nostalgia Retro microwave? Honestly speaking, it’s one of the best choices if you want to give to the elderly in your family. This makes their life easy and brings countless memories of their past because of the look. 

Most importantly, it’s easy to use, and the performance and the price are all up to the mark. The cleaning part is also simple; the only few major issues are the removable parts aren’t dishwasher safe, and it may not be an ideal choice for a big family. 

Pros

• Simple and user-friendly interface
• LED digital display for easy reading
• Pre-programmed cooking settings for convenience
• Appealing and portable design
• Lock and beep sound for safety
• The price is affordable

Cons

• It’s parts are not dishwasher friendly
• Not suitable for a big family

Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave Oven

The next microwave oven is from the Commercial Chef brand. It’s the smallest capacity (0.6 cubic feet) microwave in our guide, but that doesn’t make it a bad option. Instead, it’s ideal for gifting an elder who lives alone. 

Since the size isn’t big, no matter how small your kitchen is, it can fit easily. Additionally, the microwave is quite straightforward as there’s no difficult user interface. It has only two knobs that give you access to all functions.

Due to its simple design, I personally think it’s one of the best options for dementia patients. They can turn it on/off using the dial, reheat, or defrost anything in a couple of minutes. 

Last but not least, you’ll be surprised to know the price; it’s so affordable that even a student can afford it by saving money. 

1. Easy to use – I think it’s safe to say this Commercial Chef 0.6 cubic feet microwave is one of the best options in terms of ease of use. You don’t have to worry about whether your elder will be able to understand the user interface or not. 
2. Simple interface – The control panel has two knobs. One is for setting the temperature to high, low, or medium or selecting defrosting mode. The second dial is designed to set time. 
3. Small & lightweight – The dimensions of the microwave are 12.5 x 17.75 x 10.25 inches, and the weight is only 23 pounds making it an excellent choice for a family of two or an old person who lives alone. 
4. Affordable & durable -. Despite offering fantastic features, the price is extremely low. It’s the cheapest microwave in this guide. If you’re wondering whether the quality is good or not, then rest assured. It’s a well-made microwave that will last for years. 

Conclusion 

In my opinion, the Commercial Chef 0.6 cubic feet microwave is an excellent choice. It’s a great option for elders who live alone, dementia patients, or anyone who wants a hassle-free microwave experience. 

The microwave is also lightweight and easy to clean, making it perfect for small kitchens. The only downside is that it’s not suitable for larger families or heavy usage, and it doesn’t have pre-programmed settings, but overall, it’s a great purchase.

Pros

• Easy to use for dementia patients
• Simple interface with two knobs
• Small and lightweight, suitable for a single person
• Great value for the price
• Durable microwave oven

Cons

• No pre-programmed settings for specific food items. 
• Smallest capacity, not suitable for larger families or heavy usage

GE Smart Countertop Microwave Oven 

I’ve mentioned the smart microwave ovens in the buying guide section above, and here’s the one. It’s a GE Smart Countertop 900 watts microwave oven that comes with all the latest features that make life easier for dementia patients. 

The overall capacity is 0.9 cubic feet, providing enough space for a small family or someone who prefers to live alone. The user interface is simple and easy to use. Yes, it has several touch-sensitive buttons, but the way the company has designed them doesn’t make it difficult to understand. 

It’s a smart microwave oven, so you can expect features like wifi-connectivity, Alexa, and Google Ai connectivity. Thanks to the Ai assistant, a person will be able to control the microwave with their voice which is the best feature for dementia patients. 

The cherry on top, it has multiple pre-programmed cooking settings. Additionally, you’re also allowed to set the temperature manually for defrosting. The cleaning part is easy, and it also has a lock switch on the control panel. 

1. Easy to use  – Each touch-sensitive button is designed for a specific purpose. There’s no button that’s used to set multiple functions, which makes it super easy to use. Just click the button to choose your desired function, and you’re good to go. 
2. Ai Integration – In case you think that the elder doesn’t like the touch-sensitive buttons. You can introduce them to the Ai integration feature. Another thing you may like is the scan-to-cook technology for frozen food. It allows you to scan the frozen food packet, and the microwave will automatically set the right temperature and timer for it. 
3. Portability – The size of the microwave is 14.5″ x 19″ x 11.5″ inches. Meaning it can easily fit on the countertop of any small kitchen. 
4. Pre-programmed settings – the microwave comes with 8 pre-programmed cooking modes, including pizza, popcorn, defrosting, dinner plate, beverage, vegetables, etc. 

Conclusion 

If you asked me, this microwave oven is a complete package for dementia patients. First of all, it’s not expensive as hell like other smart microwaves. The voice-control features are excellent for dementia patients as they can easily control the microwave without spending time understanding the user interface. 

The scan-to-cook technology is fantastic. The removable accessories, like the turntable tray, are dishwasher-safe, so cleaning will be easy. Ensure one thing that the person you’re giving the microwave likes using the latest technology and doesn’t have a big family. 

Farberware Classic Microwave Oven

The Farberware Classic is a 0.7 cubic feet capacity microwave oven. It’s a countertop microwave with an overall size of 12.99 x 17.3 x 10.14 inches. The main reason behind suggesting this is the excellent quality. 

It’s made with stainless steel, and the exterior/interior are both well-made. This microwave comes with a large display. Below the display, it has touch-sensitive buttons for pre-programmed cooking functions and settings. 

The interior is easy to clean, making the life of a dementia patient a little bit easier. The microwave features a LED display, which makes it a good microwave for the elderly with vision problems, as they can read the functions easily, even with sight issues. 

Besides all the features, this countertop microwave is budget-friendly, making it a perfect option for gifts. 

1. Easy to use – With a simple design and control panel, the microwave oven is easy to use. You only have to touch the button to set the function you want, and that’s it. 
2. Pre-programmed settings – It comes with 6 pre-programmed cooking settings, which are popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverages, and dinner plates. 
3. Clear view – Due to the LED display and touch buttons, a dementia patient will be able to see the functions easily. 
4. Memory function – The best feature that’s quite helpful for dementia patients is you can save your favorite cooking setting. Later on, use the same setting in one-touch. 

Conclusion 

My overview of this microwave oven is that it’s a durable and affordable option. You can gift it as it’s pretty affordable, and the performance is great. It has a memory function that’s super helpful for dementia patients. 

While on the downside, you have to compromise on the capacity and the pre-programmed settings that are only 6. If you think these two points aren’t an issue for you, then go for it; it’s a great deal. 

Pros

• Budget-friendly and a great option for gifts
• Simple design and control panel
• 6 pre-programmed settings 
• LED display and touch buttons
• Allow you to save your favorite cooking setting

Cons

• Limited capacity – 0.7 cubic feet only
• Only 6 pre-programmed settings

Emerson 1.2 CU. FT. 1100W Griller Microwave 

I’ve reviewed the 0.6 to 0.9 cubic feet microwave. Now it’s time to discuss the Emerson 1.2 cubic feet microwave oven. It’s good for those dementia patients who still love cooking food for the family despite their health issues. 

Since the microwave is big, there will be no issue while cooking for a family. Apart from the capacity, the quality of the microwave is outstanding. The material of the microwave is stainless steel, solid and durable. 

The control panel is user-friendly, or we can say dementia patients friendly. On the top, it features a LED display, then below are the touch controls featuring a safety lock. 

The inside parts, like the glass tray, are dishwasher safe, making the hefty process of cleaning a breeze. Let’s explore more about the other main features. 

• Easy to use – One thing I can guarantee about the microwave is that dementia patients won’t feel overwhelmed and confused while using it because of the easy-to-understand control panel. 
• LED display – The control panel is bright as it has a LED digital display and touch buttons, allowing dementia patients to see the functions clearly. 
• Pre-programmed settings – You’ll get to choose between 11 microwave power levels and nine pre-programmed cooking settings. 
• Transparent door – Besides the control panel, the microwave has an LED light inside, ensuring you can check out your food clearly via the transparent door. 

Conclusion 

The conclusion for this Emerson 1.2 cubic feet microwave is you should definitely go for it if you have the budget. It’s big, easy to use, and easy to clean, with 9 cooking settings, a bright LED display, and a transparent door. 

Not to forget, it’s also a griller that allows you to make sandwiches every morning easily. Considering all of these features, I personally don’t think the price is high, but yes, it may be for you, and if that’s the case, you can check out the other affordable options.

Pros

• Perfect for families or cooking larger meals.
• The control panel is easy to use.
• Made with high-quality material.
• Easy to clean microwave.
• Clear and bright control panel
• Nine pre-programmed cooking settings.
• Feature a transparent door

Cons

• It’s a bit more expensive

TOSHIBA ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Countertop Microwave

Here comes our guide’s biggest capacity (1.3 cubic feet) microwave oven. It’s not only big but also a smart oven with some exciting latest features that can make dementia patients’ life easy peasy. 

It’s a smart microwave oven that offers a hands-free experience. The dementia patient can easily connect the microwave to the smartphone using Alexa and control the microwave temperature and almost all settings with voice. 

It also has a built-in humidity sensor that can control the power level automatically as per the requirements. Furthermore, it’s easy to clean and a great choice as far as the quality and performance are concerned.

• Smart oven – This is a smart oven that can be integrated with the Ai assistant Alexa. By doing this, a person can easily control the functions of a microwave oven without even touching the control panel. 
• Easy to use – The control panel of the microwave oven is pretty straightforward. It has a LED display and various touch buttons to control the microwave and select between the pre-programmed cooking options. 
• Big capacity – It’s a big capacity 1.3 cubic feet oven that allows you to cook food easily for a few people. 
• Cleaning – The cleaning part isn’t an issue; you can easily clean the inside and the exterior with the help of soapy water and a damp towel. The turntable is removable, but as per the instruction, it’s better to clean it yourself instead of a dishwasher.

Conclusion 

All in all, I like this microwave oven. It’s the second smart microwave in this guide, so now you have two options in the smart oven category for dementia patients. 

Its quality, performance, and capacity are outstanding. Due to Alexa integration, I think it’s one of the best you have, particularly if the person faces issues controlling the microwave with the help of a control panel. 

It has a glass door, allowing you to see the condition of the food. Also, it’s up to you if you want to turn the beep option on or off. 

Pros

• Largest capacity (1.3 cubic feet) microwave.
• Smart microwave with Alexa voice control.
• Excellent quality and performance. 
• Built-in humidity sensor for automatic power adjustment.
• Easy to clean microwave oven

Cons

• A little bit expensive