Losing your vision changes how you navigate your daily life. For many people, that means modifying their home environment to ensure they can carry out everyday tasks without injuring themselves. Fortunately, most of these adaptations are simple and inexpensive.
This is the first thing you should do to avoid falling injuries. Electrical cords that run across the floor and area rugs are the common culprits. However, you can also trip over short furniture or those that have intricate stands stretching into walkways. It’s best to get furniture that is plain and at a height that you can easily feel.
Having the right lighting throughout the house will be essential. While it’s good to use natural light, you also need to avoid glare as much as possible. You should keep the lighting in walkways consistent, ensure that there are adjustable lamps on desks or tables, and use under-cabinet lighting in areas where you work often. There are different types of lighting available but doctors recommend experimenting with a combination of fluorescent, incandescent, LED, and halogen lights to see what works for you.
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Having contrast in the right places can make it easier to differentiate things from each other. Some options are having a contrast between your kitchen floors and cabinets, having a contrast between your plates and your countertop, having a contrast between light switches and the wall, and having a contrast between doors and walls. In the bathroom, it also helps to have brightly colored towels so they’re easy to spot. Red, orange, and yellow are the best choices.
When you have plain flooring, it’s easier for you to differentiate the floor from the furniture. If your floor is shiny or slippery, you need to replace that as well.
Doctors recommend railings along stairways and in the bathroom. These railings can help you maintain your balance but they also act as guides for those who can’t see very well.
Depending on your stage of vision loss, having markers in your home can help you move around safely. Experts recommend moving furniture around so that you have clear walkways and then using textured furniture so you can orient yourself through touch.
It’s less likely for mistakes to happen if you label essentials with clear and large lettering. Some of the items that often need to be labeled include medications, food ingredients, utensils, and small tools.
It’s important to mark where the stairs end if you have a stairway. You can use brightly colored strips or paint to mark edges. It can also help to use a different texture between the flooring that’s on the stairs and the flooring where the stairway ends.
Not being able to see where your shower or bath starts can lead to injuries. That’s why experts recommend having a walk-in shower where you can easily enter and leave.
A combination of large and handheld mirrors can make it easier for you to see what’s going on in your home.
Though some of your home modifications can be affordable, others need a higher expenditure. The good news is that you have several resources to choose from.
Some grants are available on the federal, state, and local levels for people with disabilities who need to make changes to their homes. Some nonprofit organizations will also offer home modification grants to those who need them. Sometimes, these grants are given whether you’re a homeowner or living with a loved one. While the criteria for being chosen for a grant can differ, you generally need evidence of your disability, employment history, and tax documents.
Since vision loss can be irreversible and progressive, it’s important to maintain your safety at home. While seeing all the possible changes you need can be overwhelming, you can work with your doctor to establish a workable timeline. You should also note that financial assistance can help you prioritize your home modifications without being concerned about cost.
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