|
For
anyone experiencing vision loss, the prospect of adapting a home to
make it safe and manageable may seem daunting. It needn't be.
Expensive or cumbersome renovations are rarely necessary. More
important when considering changes is to always keep two factors in
mind: predictability, visibility, and touchability.
Predictability
simply means organizing furniture, objects, and contents of closets
and cabinets in ways you find comfortable and can easily remember.
Always remind family members and visitors to let you know if
something's been moved.
Visibility
covers a broader range of adaptations, from simply making items
bigger (large-print labels, clocks, etc.) to making things
adjustable—such as increasing or decreasing lighting, reducing
glare, and employing strong color contrasts, different textures, or
tactile markings throughout the home. Finding out what works best
for you will take a little time and experimentation, so let's explore
the methods in more detail.
Touchability is another critical factor. Effective use of your tactile sense can increase efficiency and help reduce eye fatigue. You can use your sense of touch to supplement the use of contrast, such as a bright orange touch dot on the power button of your TV remote; or texture changes to help you navigate, such as wood flooring to carpet or tiles; and organize your home, such as containers that feel different to hold items within a cabinet. Different textures or tactile markings throughout an environment can help you locate specific rooms more easily, identify objects or organize your home more effectively. Finding out what works best for you will take a little time and experimentation. Suggestions for each room in your home are covered in this section.
Your Home Room by Room
By
now you've probably already discovered that each room in your home
possesses its own unique challenges for someone with vision loss.
Don't worry, with time and a few surprisingly low-tech upgrades, you
will resume control of your surroundings, room by room. This section
describes simple, often low-cost steps that will allow you to go on
living in your home—safely, comfortably, and in charge.
For More Information:
|
Vision loss doesn't have to work against you.
