I think induction itself is fine, if she's open learning a slightly different way of doing things. But I would only consider ranges with knobs. By the time my mother was in her mid-eighties she would not have been able to see digital controls well enough to use them.

I think induction would be good but one thing I always was careful of was that the controls should be arranged in the same order as the burners. Some of the cooktops expect you to discern a small dot and to have to associate that with which knob runs which burner.

However it will mean a learning curve...I still overboil stuff, even when I'm standing and watching. And it means getting new pots that are magnetizable.

no open flame or red hot burner to catch one's sleeve upon, and reduced chance of burns from elements. But as writersblock mentions, you might want one with knobs.

I would have much preferred my Mom having an induction cooktop over the electric one she had. So much safer.

as another older person, I'd rather have induction. knobs would be good too.

if my stove ever dies, i'll just get an induction hot plate.

Knobs are not necessary if mom has most of her marbles.

My mom was sharp as a tack (she still worked as a reporter), but her vision was deteriorating slowly (macular degeneration) and arthritis in her hands made fine tactile movements very difficult for her. It has nothing to do with mental acuity, just the possibility of physical deterioration that comes to most people.

I am a poster child grandma for induction. Me too! (Although at nearing 65 I consider myself middle age LOL)

If safety is an issue, yes, is the answer to your question. Induction is definitely safer. Unless you ask my 12 year old daughter, I'm not considered elderly and I've been saved a couple times by the auto turnoff. In fact I think I may be dangerous if I went back to gas since I've gotten lax with my dishtowels, potholders, and cutting boards near the stovetop. It's just not an issue with induction. My 74yo mom had no problem with my controls which are not knobs, but that is user dependent. You could be 40yo and not like using the buttons either.

Talk to her about it and see what she thinks.

I'm glad that my mom has induction. But then she has always been a fire hazard. New car battery every month from leaving the headlights on kinda gal. Actually melted a pot on a coil-top once. And that was when she was young!

Another poster child (young!) grandma for induction. Cooking on mine - Electrolux slide-in - is such a pleasure. I have all my marbles ;) but I am tech challenged and there was hardly any learning curve for me. I'd started with an induction hot plate when my old range failed. Easier to control, IMHO, than gas or reg. electric.

My dad moved to a newly built elderly housing complex. For the safety aspect I wish he & other residents were cooking on induction ranges.

Regarding knobs vs. a push digital pad - I can see benefits for both. The knobs might be more familiar, but the push pad would be easier, I think, for those with arthritis or weak hands. My digital read outs are very easy to see & read.

my 85 year old mother LOVES my Bosch induction and is planning to get induction soon. She currently has gas but thinks my induction cooks better. I am encouraging her because of the auto shutoff. She does have to turn on the hood light to see the controls well , they are not very bright in the dim light.

Does your mother have any interest in induction and learning something new and maybe getting new cookware if necessary? Or was she happy with what she had and would like to have same again?

scrappy, I have to turn on the hood lights to see the controls AT ALL (not just "well"), so she's not alone.

I have sold a few induction units in this instance. The safety factor is pretty nice, if there is no pot on the burner...nothing ever heats up.

Look for a knob control though. My experience says she will prefer that!

I put in the Bosch Benchmark cooktop thinking it would be so much safer for my elderly mother (it is a vacation home that she uses a lot). It IS safe, because she, 1) can't figure out how to cook on it, and 2) if she could, she can't see the marks on it to make her selections! I LIKE that minimalist appearance, but the visibility thing IS an issue ---- my husband can't see it either! I do love cooking on it though and if I had it to do over again, the only change I might make is something easier to see and control. Induction cooking is wonderful!!

Scrappy, kudos to your 85 year old mom! My 85 year old mom is totally overwhelmed by it and blind to the controls.

Thanks everyone for the input. I can definitely say that my mom does not like change. If the tv isn't working.....it's the tv's fault.....not her inability to work the controller. So, taking her somewhere to physically see an induction in action before committing to it would be the way to go. Not sure if that's possible.

Otherwise, I'll have to research reviews on smooth top electric stoves. I really liked the idea of a double oven 30" electric smooth top, but I don't think she could bend over and lift out something heavy in the lower oven. She always wanted to have two ovens and I was hoping that would fit the bill. Perhaps she could do most of her baking in the upper oven and only use the lower oven at holidays? We would be there to assist then with lifting out something like a turkey. She really liked her smooth top at her last home and she's always been afraid of gas.

So, if we can find a demonstration for the induction and she likes it, any brand recommendations?

Any recommendations for the electric smooth top?

Thanks all!

Designsaavy,

If knobs are required, I think Viking is the only one that fits the bill. Gaggenau makes an induction cooktop with a knob but it is a little interesting to use. It is hockey puck that you place on the cooktop, point to the burner you need to use and activate. You may want to call around locally to see who has an induction cooktop in action. I personally love my Miele but I don't have any of the constraints that you mother does and I don't find it difficult to use and read the markings.

This is the controls on the older induction from Miele that I have.

This the controls on the newer 30" induction from Miele

Good luck!

For ranges there are more options with knobs: frigidaire (very inexpensive, check Ajmadison, but put it in the cart to see the real price), Samsung, Berta, Ilve, Miele, Viking, Verona.

I bought a house 1 year and a half ago and have been setting it up for my retirement, not far off. Moved in a few months ago, but still waiting for some installations including my Samsung induction Chef Duo. Can't wait to try it; it has knobs, a blue "flame" which adjusts to the heat level, and single/dual oven. If it works out I feel it will be perfect for me as I age.

I vote induction for the elderly as well. I wouldn't say knobs are a must. And many elders are using computers and texting so if they can do these things, touch buttons shouldn't be too much of a challenge. My electronic numbers might be easier to see than what setting you have selected on a knob since they are a good size and brightly lit. And the touch pad is not tiny.

I am 77, have the double hob "plate" from Amazon (there is just me in this house) and I wanted more storage rather than a full size range. If anyone has concerns about older parents switching to induction maybe purchase something on Amazon for them to try (and it is easy to return stuff on Amazon). If you want to see what I have, go to the manufactured home forum and look for Debbie B - Carolyn's upgrades. CMM

Definitely no computers or texting for my mom. Knobs would definitely be a must.

I will check with showrooms to see if they have working convection to try out.

*induction* (not convection).

Ah yes, typo. I notice you hadn't responded with any other help, but thank you for the proofreading.

I don't know why, but in my working life I seem to have a lot of trouble with touchscreens (fingerprint scanners, too, I guess my prints are worn out!) Perhaps because I have perpetually cold hands? Low personal magnetism? I would be sure to have her try out touch controls if possible before purchasing.

I do think kirkhall was merely being helpful in clarifying that you meant induction not convection. A typo would have been "indiction", but "convection" is a whole different animal.

OP, please re-think the knobs v. touchpad issue. Arthritic fingers do much, much better on a touchpad than trying to turn a knob. Knobs can get sticky. For a touchpad, all you have to do is gently rest your finger on the icon. If there is a difficulty, and I absolutely do not think there is if you are still somewhat sharp, it would be in selecting what to touch. But physically, a gentle touch is way easier than turning a knob.

There is a learning curve with induction. Induction responds immediately-you don't have to wait for it to cool down. So if a pasta pot is threatening to overboil, turn it down immediately and it will lower the heat right away. A wonderful feature.

Younger people may love their cast iron but the elderly don't. Too heavy. Much too heavy-and because it retains heat so well, it will not respond quickly to a change in selected temp. The cast iron pot may boil over.

Also, remember to use 'boost' to attain a boil but not to maintain a boil. After a boil is maintained, the continued use of such may cause a boilover. Just another induction hint. --You don't need to spend a ton on induction ready cookware. I have very expensive and very inexpensive cookware and I find that if it works on induction, it works well. That is so not true of gas. (I have a gas range in another house). I truly think that induction ready pots, all of mine anyway, cook so evenly bc they are generally built more carefully w stringent specs in the metal. If you pick up a $7 non induction pot at the grocery store, it may be ok for boiling and not much else, that is on a gas or electric stove. Get an Ikea induction pot for $12, and it will cook evenly, honest.--Don't get sucked into the 'fully clad' myth either. According to the old Demeyere site, for soups and stocks, the sides of a pot do not require cladding. Base only cladded pots are just fine and actually lighter weight, a big factor for us geezers. I have both and there is no difference. I am not that fussy of a cook anymore, no fancy, temperamental sauces, but I do know how to cook.

If your mumsey has most of her marbles, she will love induction-the ease of cleaning, the responsiveness and the safety. Egads, it can shut itself off (certain brands) and wont turn on by mistake. And be cool. What it lacks? No flame so she cannot char a pepper. Flambe with booze or broil that pepper. No big deal.

Ps. Most people who have cooked almost all of their lives don't want to learn something new. Understandable. But, induction has so many benefits, especially safety, that it is worth the unnerving. Be positive about this new miracle way of cooking.

And an individual hob, a hot plate thingy, preferable at 1800 watts, is a wonderful idea. It is so precise. I think you can actually set the temp at say 325 degrees rather than at say medium high, and change in 5 or 10 degree increments. I don't have one and so think, via hearsay. Under $100.

Thanks for all your info. I spoke with my mom today with all the information and she wants the electric smooth top range.

So, it's going to be a one oven with drawer underneath smooth top, stainless steel. I need to research reviews over the next 2 days and make the purchase right away.

Any of you have one? Suggestions are welcome. Thank you all.

Late to the party. Been taking care of our puppy

Just saw you decided on smooth top. The induction functionality will be similar but offer more safety.

I would look for a model with visible burner rings either smooth top or induction. Love my Wolf induction but burners are hard to see.

Sorry to hear your Mom doesn't want induction because it really is a much better option for those who are aging. It's why I am putting it in my new build. Is it possible to take your Mom to see an induction cooktop working?

She's made up her mind.

I have to find her an electric smooth top this week so we can install next weekend. She lives 100 hundred miles from me, so hopefully we find something reliable. I'm a little concerned if something breaks on something we purchase in our area that it won't be serviced in hers. Not sure how that works.

My 79 year old mother cooks just fine on her "regular" smoothtop stove. She moves the pan off the burner when she is done or needs to cool the pan down -- because she knows the burner stays hot.

If your mother is used to this -- just get her the same.

Stove is bought. Thanks for help. :)

what did you end up buying?

Laura, this thread is a year-and-a-half old. You can try to send a message to the OP from her profile page. Are you looking for a cooktop?

Yes, I am! Thinking induction WITH knobs at the front