New cabinets (try Ikea), small DEEP sink (better than large shallow sink, actually),under the counter fridge which allows you to extend the counter space, glass cooktop with small built in oven beneath, and small microwave on a shelf below upper cabinet (get a shorter cabinet so the microwave fits beneath it but at same level as the rest of the cabinets, under cabinet halogen puck lights, kick-ass glass tile backsplash that will reflect light.
Good Luck.

For Manhattan, not so bad.

First, you need to determine how much cooking she plans to do. Does the facility have a dining room, as many assisted living places do? If so, you may only want to have a pair of burners, a microwave and perhaps a toaster oven. Also, how much refrigeration space will she require. I once live in a studio with a rec-room unit that had and undercounter fridge, two burners and sink -- this same unit would free up some counter space for other things. Also, are you confined to working with that one wall area?

It doesn't look like a lot of cabinetry so replacing them is probably an option (if it is in your budget). However, I would also include a drop leaf table on the adjacent wall for some extra work space. If replacing isn't in your budget, I'd try wrapping the doors in a cool contact paper and adding hardware.

I'd add an under counter fridge, and a range, and a new countertop with smaller sink, and a back splash that extends from counter to upper cabinets. It's a great little morning kitchen.

IKEA cabinets are definitely something to consider. Also think about adding cabinets with pull out storage (drawers can become too heavy to open) and avoid going too high with the cabinets. The easier the access, the more comfortable she will be.

I agree, a lot depends on how much she wants to use the kitchenette. She could treat it almost like a wet bar, with under counter fridge, nicer cabinets, sink, and a small stove. It could be outfitted with under cabinet lights and a back splash that matches the cabinets to give a more "furniture" sense to it, and she could display flowers there as a kind of welcoming foyer when not cooking... (Also, if she has any mobility issues, reaching for the higher cabinets might be a problem, so take that into account.)

My father-in-law had a similar setup, and it was always a total disaster. He kept snacks and breakfast things there, all over the counter and stacked. It could have been nice if only it were tidy!

Also good to consider are portable induction burners- they have no flame, can be stowed away for extra counter space, and although many aren't great for super high heat, they can be great for cooking things low and slow.

hey, bernadette ... first of all, best wishes to you and your mother! i know how difficult the search can be for just the right place.

as a renter and someone who works in senior housing (not new york), congratulations on being able to modify the apartment! that sure doesn't happen where i live or work.

having never done any before in my own life, i don't have any specific ideas about moving cupboards and water/electrical stuff to rearrange that kitchen. hopefully you will get lots of usable ideas for that in the comments here.

i have a couple ideas for some cosmetic changes. if i was moving in there, i would paint the walls (of the kitchen and the entire apartment) my very favorite color and then paint all the cupboards to match so they'd blend in a bit more than those brown ones do right now. i'd suggest a light color (for me it would be a soft yellow) to brighten up that tight space and to welcome me home. i'd go with white appliances (not stainless steel or black) for the same reason. since the cupboards are so close to the entry, i would leave the doors on them to help keep contents clean and keep the area visually restful. if that was my place, i'd look for a bench with a back and a deep seat where i could sit while cooking and/or set bags of groceries when i first got home. i'd put it to the left of the apartment door (as seen looking into the kitchen from the living room) and i would find a larger piece of art to go above the bench. some hand towels and other accessories in the kitchen could link to colors used elsewhere in the apartment. throw rugs can - obviously - be a safety hazard for people of all ages, so use with caution (and a security pad underneath)!

do you mind if i also offer some non-decorating ideas? here's a couple, though am sure you are on top of it all since you are seeking help with your mother's potential kitchen (that's good to hear ... and how nice that you and your mother have each other in your lives) and said not to scare you off. said just because i guess it's my nature to want to help and because we've had some situations that were tough on people for making assumptions. read and understand the lease/terms of any rent subsidy, etc, ask about policies for dealing with smoking/noisy neighbors/ bugs/changing locks, see if there are services offered in the building (activities, social worker, contracting with home health care agencies, laundry, etc) and learn what the staff of the apartment building are allowed to do or not do and the hours they are available. tour the place yourself at various times of day(s) and evenings; smell, look and listen. talk with tenants, too. familiarize yourselves with the neighborhood and all it offers (or doesn't) - grocery store, bank, etc. do all those things as if you yourself were renting the place and moreso since it's for your mother. :) and please visit her frequently (said not thinking you'd do otherwise; it's just we see and hear a lot of tough stuff where i work).

anyway, again, best wishes to you and your mother!

k

For those suggesting an under counter fridge.. the woman is a SENIOR - do you think she wants to bend over every time she wants to eat or drink?
Silly.

Make certain you check the rules re the stove. Many senior facilities have timers on burners so if the person forgets the stove, the burner turns off if it is not re-set. Even if the facility doesn't require the particular stove, definitely check them out. As your Mom ages, it could become an issue. Any cupboards that are low should have slide out shelves or bins, so she doesn't have to bend down too far.
Wishing your Mom the best!

I love all the ideas except the under counter fridge. Too much bending down for an older person.

Place the most used items (microwave, refrigerator, oven, dishes) at counter height...turn the corner if you have to, go partly around the room with the counter...or use a small (eventually removable) island/table just to keep as much as possible accessible at waist level. Make use of hooks and open shelves for easy accessibility (cabinets and shelving don't have to have doors, you can remove that step). 2nd most used items below counter to avoid bending. Rarely needed items above (if there is any above-counter storage at all) to discourage reaching and use of a step stool.

The LG fridge might be perfect for your mom, as it has a small footprint and top fridge/ bottom freezer. http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/LRBP1031.html My grandfather has a similar fridge (as do I!) and he finds it keeps his most used items like milk, eggs and bread up high. We have also supplied him with a stool in the kitchen so that he can do washing up, chopping etc sitting down. I also like the suggestions above for either a remodel or add via butchers block for more chopping space.

Another "no" for the under the counter fridge. Make sure that any modifications will accomodate a walker if she eventually needs to use one.

I don't think it's bad, just dull. Paint the cabinets something light and bright. Change the countertops -- maybe a cheerful color in quartz, something with zero maintenance. I agree that the bottom freezer fridge makes the most sense, and maybe a smaller sized range since she will not likely be entertaining. If she will want to keep a lot of things on the counter, then get an island table if you can fit it - the microwave and storage can go on the existing countertops, and she can prep on the table. Hard to tell from this picture how much space you have to work with. Good luck to you and mom!

What a fun project. It's quite simple actually. I'd go with a narrow 24" fridge (refrigerator on top, freezer on bottom): LG, Summit, Liebherr, and even GE have options (I have a Liebherr in my small kitchen and love it, but it was pricey. The others didn't have 24" options at the time). 24" stove if you can (I hate the idea of not having an oven at all). IKEA for cabinets. Why not replace? If you use a bright, modern cabinet, it will really lighten the place up and make things so much cheerier. Besides, you only need a few.

If you needed more storage space below waste level, you could always add a narrow bar height table (with a shelf or drawers underneath) or a narrow island for additional space. It would also serve as a nice way to delineate the space from the rest of the apartment.

Solid surface counter (again, it's tiny, why not?) and a backsplash with a few under-counter lights and voi la, you have a new kitchen.

Also, I think tall cabinets could work. More storage is always better. I'd rather have a hard to reach top shelf than none at all (I recently changed my wall cabinets to 39" from 30"...the additional storage is amazing). Even if you only stow almost never used items there, at least they're not out in the open. Put a sturdy step stool near by, and it's even more of a non-issue.

One more thing, just noticed the kitchen is literally at the entrance. I still think the narrow island/bar top table could be nice for additional prep space and to stow things as you come through the front door. Depending on what the other side of the hallway looks like, you could have it on wheels and just push it aside too, if it gets in the way.

This place screams for more counter space! I live in a (less crappy now that I put some effort into it) college apartment. And successfully created more counterspace/island area in our kitchen.
I went to lowes, Turns out you can order precut laminate countertop sections for about $50-$70 depending on the size. I painted the bottom and made some support structures to mount it to the wall to create more baking/cooking/dish drying space! I ended up needing my counter to fold down, but I'm sure some basic L brackets and straight legs would be fine for your mom!
Plus, I was able to pick a color that brightened up our kitchen, your mom and you could find a color she likes and then, would be more in her style, less the sink piece.

The first question is how you can incorporate universal design without making it institutional looking. For example, if she needs to be in a wheelchair, how does the kitchen need to be designed so she can use it? That might mean a space under the sink. Should the upper cabinets be lowered a bit? What type of hardware is easiest to use?

For the stove, I would buy EXACTLY the same technology she currently uses. Adapting to, say, induction, is a lot to ask for someone who has cooked all her life. I would also buy a stove and microwave with as many safety features a feasible - and think about the size of type on the appliances and the ease of use. This is not to say Mom is mentally incompetent - but she will be getting older, and frailer, so put things in place now, as it will be very hard to get her to accept these changes once she is living there.

I would put in light modern cabinets and a medium toned counter top that won't show stains.

I would put things like the microwave on the counter top because removing hot things from above could be a problem.

If possible, go with 2 burners and a small fridge.

It's kind of nice to walk right into the kitchen. Both of our last two houses have been entered more often at the back door, right into the kitchen. So just spruce it up and make it homey.

Great suggestions on keeping it simple for your mom - I would make sure there is adequate venting or air filtering for any stove you put in.

The undercounter fridge is a bad idea for an older person with limited mobility.

I've been there with my Mom. When she moved into her retirement apartment community, the dining room served two meals a day as part of the rent. She chose to eat her breakfast in her room. Her main need was refrigerator space to keep milk, juice, Ensure, yogurt, and fruit. I would say the LG fridge sounds perfect. She had refused to learn to use a microwave, but if your Mom will, there is a microwave with a convection oven available where she would have an oven and micro in one unit. That way she could heat soup, or microwave dinners, or bake a casserole. Because of the lack of open heating element or flame, the induction burner would be perfect.

Make her kitchen as beautiful as you can afford. One of my Mom's favorite pieces of furniture was her china cabinet and we made it part of her living area. That provided great storage for her nice dishes. Once we moved her into that apartment, we only gave her her "good" china, silver and fancy pieces to use. She should feel like a queen every day. We used her old furniture so she could feel at home - just not all of it!
We had a difficult time getting her to decide on what to use and what to give up, so my sister and I just sent her to my brother's house and we did the move and the decoration of her new space ourselves. She absolutely loved it. Every piece we chose to put in her new space was special to her.

When we had to move her again into an Assisted Living studio apartment, we downsized her furniture again, but that china cabinet went with her! The sales staff at that facility used her apartment as a show space to prospective new clients. She was very proud.

High contrast
-- between the edge of counter and the countertop
-- between the floor and the start of the counters
-- big D-style handles on cabinet & drawer pulls
-- matte white countertop for contrast with food, without glare
At least one comfortable height counter -- bent-elbow-height
More ideas:
http://stantonhomes.com/UniversalDesignKitchen.aspx

Remember you don't have to pay for a new kitchen to get the look of a new kitchen. Just cabinet doors and painting the bases will go a long way to improve this space. Look at some of the "budget upgrades" on AT and use them for inspiration. Don't just throw out everything and buy cheap Ikea replacements. If your mom loves the look of Ikea, great, but in a decade Ikea kitchens will be a dime a dozen and people will be willing to pay more for quality.