Corning "Counter That Cooks" in VA

[panthera]

Induction is great

And over here in Europe no more expensive than a good MOL conventional smooth top. I am not hysterical, but:
My parents' medications have left them forgetful. Every week, when I am in the 'States, I find the old stove on and a burner hot, hot, hot. Of course there are dish towels, pot-holders and all sorts of cooking oils, etc. next to the stove.
Told my brother, hoping he'd watch out a bit when I am back here in Europe.
So he runs to "mummy" and says I say they are "losing" it.
So now we have had a couple of close calls and parents who are furious with me - and refusing to even think about alternatives: (This they remember with crystal clarity!)
The fire alarms I bought over the summer will NOT have their batteries replaced and the fire-extinguisher I bought for next to the stove...well, anyway.
So does anyone have any good ideas how to solve this problem?
I could strangle my brother...but it is only a question of time until we have a fire.
Yes, the situation extends to other aspects of the house and living, too - but the grease fire comments really got me going here.
Sorry.

 

[chromacolor]

My mom had a built in Corning top and hated it. Even a splash of water on it while it was on would cause a burned brown stain. Corning even had a special cleaner for the top and my mom kept a case of it. My parents had a new house built which we moved into in 1979 and mom had nothing but bad luck with ALL of the appliances. They would have been 1978-1979 era. It was like that house was cursed. In the kitchen she had the Corning top which she hated. The built in Amana double oven was fine. However the Avacado green Amana fridge wasn't. It broke down at least once a year. Also a POS Maytag dishwasher that broke down and leaked at every oppertunity. In her laundry room she had a new Harvest Gold Speed Queen pair. That washer was pure junk. It went thru 2 motors and a timer in the first year. Even our furnace and air were crap. I think the builders put in an undersized furnace. That house was always cold in the winter, and when the compressor went out in the Fedders Central air unit the first summer we were in there, wasn't a joy. They sold that house and moved to the country. When they bought a house in town again in 1985, that place came with 60's Frigidaire appliances, which are STILL going. Also the house came with a 60's Maytag set and they are still going strong as well.....

 

[appnut]

I am looking forward to someone coming up with a free-standing induction range that isn't one of those "designer brands". I've hard somehwere engineers are working on a 2nd generation induction technology, one that will work with more metals. Hope so!!

 

[dalangdon]

Keven, check out this link. It looks like it might be a good solution for your problem with your folks. It's pricey, but it could also be resued on other stoves for other situations.

http://www.save-on-security.com/Stove Guard.htm

 

[exploder321]

Post it notes

We have tons of post it notes all over like:
Did you turn the oven off?
Did you unplug the toaster?
Did you turn off the stove?
Did you remove all utenisals from the stovetop and surronding areas
Now we also have:
Did you turn off the circut braker for the microwave?

 

[panthera]

Thanks Dan,

That is not so pricey when you consider the grief it could prevent. Looks like something I could have wired in when they are at the doctor's...
I appreciate the help. Brother dearest has continued his "it takes two to tango sales pitch" and has pretty much succeeded (he came at me over the table at the last court ordered mediation resulting from the crash just before I returned to Europe). Now I am not to make any changes or do any further work on the house. They are not ill just recovering and I am trying to make the place a nursing home so I can take control of the family.
So now we won't have grab bars in the bathtub, the water heater which runs at 140°F won't get split into two, one for the bath at 110° and one for the dishwasher, washer at 140°...
The rail on the stairs is pulling out of the studs cause of the loading, nope. Level the front steps with a ramp? Nope.
How about automatic lighting for the walk in the back (-40° winters with high winds, ice and snow where they live). Under no conditions - they know I was just trying to have high power run out so I could have a "sauna" in the garden...
It is very scary. Brother thinks he is "supporting" folks and I am controlling jerk. But he refuses to talk to doctors, rehab, safety specialist, etc. And he is winning, big time.
Sorry for the long rant...but any solution like Dan's, that is - something which increases safety but doesn't look like it or can't be de-installed (like the water temperature limiter I installed just before I left in the bath...taken off, cause "unnecessary) would be a big help.