(bathroom, using visual contrast, bedroom and closets, organizing the wardrobe, dining room, kitchen, operating appliances, laundry room, living room)
Bathroom
Bathroom tiles, water, slippery surfaces—the bathroom can present a great many hazards for someone with even a slight degree of vision loss or loss of mobility. By making the bathroom safer and more conveniently organized, the possibility of falling is minimized and the visually impaired person can take care of personal hygiene more efficiently.
- Make sure that any rug in the bath area is nonskid.
- Keep frequently used items in the same place at all times. Label them. Whenever possible, use plastic rather than glass containers.
- Buy towels, washcloths, and bath mats that contrast sharply with the tub and tiles.
- Hang towels that contrast with the wall color.
- Use soaps and shampoos in pump dispensers to prevent spillage, or hang a shower caddy in the shower to hold soap and shampoo.
- Put a nonskid mat, friction tape, or patterned appliqués on the bottom of the tub or the floor of the shower. Choose colors that contrast with the surface.
- Have a grab bar installed on the edge of the tub or a railing on the wall of the shower to prevent slipping when getting in and out.
- Have additional lighting installed over the tub and shower.
- Replace a white toilet seat with a darker, contrasting seat. If necessary, put a frame with arms over the seat to make sitting down and getting up easier.
- Learn how far faucets need to be rotated to get the desired temperature. Turn on the cold water first … then add hot water. Turn off the hot water first.
- In the shower, use a hand-held showerhead to test the water temperature on the hand.
- To get the right amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush, use a dark color or striped toothpaste. Hold the bristles of the brush between the thumb and forefinger. That way, the person can judge the amount squeezed from the tube. Another way is to put the toothpaste on a finger and then on the brush.
- File nails rather than using scissors or a clipper. If you have diabetes, be certain that only a medical professional cuts the toenails.
- Shave with an electric razor rather than a manual blade to avoid nicks and cuts.
Contrast
Using visual contrast as well as using contrast in surface—a change in flooring from one area to another, and touch—such as using rubber bands to distinguish bottles of shampoo, can help people with vision loss navigate home environments safely and effectively. Using a good contrast/bad contrast approach, the visually impaired person can check out how using different options for contrast can help him/her to function more safely in the bathroom. These changes do not need to be expensive. All can be done by using visual contrast and texture changes.
Note: Many people with low vision cannot distinguish colors per se, but can often detect visual contrast. Also, when choosing a color scheme, use solid colors rather than patterns and make sure that the colors selected provide adequate contrast for the person who will be living in the environment.
Bedroom and Closets
Below are tips for safety, functionality and comfort:
- Arrange furniture to reduce obstructions in the main traffic path.
- Keep color contrast in mind when choosing bedspread, decorator pillows, window coverings, etc.
- If there are blinds on the window, use a contrasting color on the pulls to make them easier to see.
- Light switches and outlet covers should contrast with walls.
- Be sure to keep electrical cords out of the traffic path, as well as low objects such as foot stools.
- Use adjustable blinds and window coverings that will help to control light and glare.
- Keep a magnifying device or direct light desk lamp at the bedside for specific tasks such as reading or sewing.
- If using use a television in the bedroom, position it to reduce glare.
- Keep remote controls in a tray of a contrasting color on a bedside table or other location that is easy to find.
- Note: Large-button telephones, large-print wall clocks, talking clocks, and low vision alarm clocks are available for persons with low vision. Many include features for people with hearing loss, as well.
Organizing the Wardrobe
- Give away or throw away any article of clothing not worn in more than a year
- Add dividers to drawers to separate sweaters, scarves, underwear, and various other items that end up in a jumble when there are no boundaries to keep them in order.
- Organize by outfit, coordinating attractive combinations in advance. Can also organize by color, keeping all clothing of the same color together.
- Bag it – store small, easily lost items, such as jewelry, in plastic zipper lock bags. Plastic bags are also useful for keeping coordinated scarves and belts with outfits.
Dining Room
- Make sure there is good, sufficient lighting with reduced glare. If there are windows, make sure the window coverings allow the visually impaired person to control the light (adjustable blinds are a good option). It may be helpful to have a hanging light with a dimmer over the table.
- If possible, steer away from a glass tabletop, or one with a very shiny, glossy top; these surfaces cause glare.
- Make use of contrast in the furniture and table settings. If chair cushions contrast in color to the chairs, the visually impaired person will be able to find them more easily. Use a solid color “table runner” on the table to provide some contrast. Use placemats that contrast with the table, and napkins that contrast with the placemat, so that they can be easily located. If it contrasts with the placemat or table, a solid white plate is often the best option, making it easier to more readily see the food on the plate.
- Keep as much clutter as possible off the table. If there is a flower arrangement, candles, salt, and pepper as a standard part of the table setting, remember to remove them before cleaning the table—or they can even be removed before placing serving dishes on the table.
Kitchen
Organizing and Labeling Canned Foods
- Prepare labels in advance based on the shopping list. A self-adhesive label, marked with large print, tactile dots, or whatever works best for the visually impaired person is easy to apply.
- Use varying numbers of rubber bands to distinguish one type of product from another— two bands for mixed fruits, three for green vegetables, four for sauces, etc.
- Label cans the same day they arrive from the store, before they are packed away. Ask a family member or neighbor to assist with identifying the contents of each can
Labeling Methods
- Large-print labels
- Magnetic letters
- Color-coded labels
- Rubber band markers
- Alphabetical sorting
- Braille labels
- Bump dots
- Labels with plastic fruits and vegetables that represent the content of cans and cartons
- card and barcode reader/recorders
Tips for Organizing Kitchen Items
- Try to make sure every item is always put away after use in the same designated place.
- Get rid of clutter and dispose of seldom-used and expired items.
- Organize utensils in drawers with a method that makes sense to each visually impaired individual.
- Make sure knives are put in a separate location from other utensils.
- Put most frequently used pots and pans in a specific location such as on a pegboard within easy reach, or in a cupboard near the stove.
- Develop a system to organize foods on cupboard shelves and in the refrigerator so that every type of food has its designated place.
Operating Appliances
It is often very difficult to see the dials on a stove and other appliances. There are products that can help. Bump (tactile) dots or 3D pens (also known as Hi-Mark pens) are durable and effective markers. Mark stovetops or the oven dial at the point most often used. When using ovens, for example, 350 degrees is a common setting for baking. Place a mark above the dial then turn the knob until the mark on the dial matches the one on the stove. Also, if purchasing a new oven, look for a brand that automatically sets the oven to 350 degrees when turned on.
Laundry Room
- Mark the settings used the most on the washer and dryer with bump dots or a 3D pen (also known as a Hi-Mark pen).
- To measure laundry detergent, most liquid detergents have a cap that when filled has the proper amount to do a full load; by the same token, half a cap is normally used for half a load. Can also use a cup that has tactile or large print markings.
- Put a rubber band, large print, or tactile label on the detergent bottle to distinguish it from other cleaning products.
- If clothes are hung outside to dry outside, ensure that the clothesline is easily accessible.
- Consider applying slip-resistant surfacing to flooring that might become slippery when wet.
- When purchasing new clothing, pick items that have distinctive features such as buttons, trim, lapels, etc., which can help the visually impaired person identify the item by touch.
- Hang matching tops and bottoms on the same hanger when taking them out of the dryer.
- Have a hook or rod nearby to hang clothes on when removing them from the dryer.
- Pin socks before washing, or keep them together with a sock lock (also known as a “sock tuck”).
- Dirty laundry can be placed in two different baskets, one for dark and one for light, to make laundry day easier
Living Room
- Experiment with lighting to achieve the most pleasing and workable room tone. Can also install window blinds, which are adjustable to reduce glare from sunlight. Choose room lighting that provides light over a broad area, with adjustable swing-arm or gooseneck lamps for targeted lighting in areas where read is done or to do other tasks.
- Eliminate clutter. Organize furniture to create 3-foot wide clear paths around the room, and make sure there are no holes or rips in the carpet or other floor irregularities. Create a walkway using large furniture elements, such as the back of the sofa. Can also arrange furniture to create a “resting area” where the visually impaired person can pause if he/she needs to adjust to lighting level changes (e.g., going from a dimly lit hallway to a bright living room).
- Remove low-lying objects. When laying out the furniture, perhaps consider removing the coffee table and other low-lying objects altogether. Choose a coffee table that contrasts with the color of the floor and walls and has rounded edges. Avoid clear glass.
- Rearrange electrical cords so they are not in the pathway.
- Remove throw or area rugs, if possible. If rugs/mats are needed, use nonskid padding or double-sided tape to secure them to the floor.
- Remember to use contrasts. Contrast comes in handy throughout the living room. Pillows and throws should contrast sharply with the furniture they are placed on—different colors, patterns, and textures. Choose furniture fabric that contrasts with the floor material, or use a bright-colored piping along the edges of seat cushions. The carpet or other floor covering, windows, and exits should contrast with walls. Finally, use switch plates that contrast in color to the walls, or highlight existing outlets with colored paint or tape.
- Be mindful of glare and where it lands in the room. Position the TV, as well as clocks, stereos, and anything with electronic displays, so that they are always away from glare.
- Keep everything in its place. Can use a tray, for example, to store objects like a remote, so it can always be found when needed.
- Ask friends and relatives to respect new room arrangements. Once the visually impaired person has his/her living room arranged to his/her liking, ask friends and family to help in keeping it all in order. Request that they put items back in the same place they found them, and that they not move anything without permission.