Vision loss is a profound challenge that can significantly affect an elder’s independence, safety, and social interactions, particularly for those living alone. While the experience of vision loss varies greatly among individuals, it commonly impacts essential daily living skills such as mobility, reading, cooking, computer usage, and driving. Creating a safer, more accessible environment requires awareness and practical adjustments. To help caregivers, friends, and family better support their loved ones, we share these ten expert tips from optometrist, Dr. Cathy Stern.
The Ten Tips
- Guidance During Walking: When walking with someone with vision loss, offer your arm and have them hold your elbow so you will be a half-step ahead of them. This allows them to feel your movements and quickly adjust their gaze or direction of movement in order to move forward safely.
- Stair Safety: If a home has stairs, place bright, contrasting tape on each stair edge or paint a stripe on the edges of wood stairs. This goes for stairs both inside and outside.
- Minimize Trip Hazards: Avoid the use of throw rugs, entryway mats or floor clutter like shoes to minimize falls.
- Bathroom Contrast: White bathtubs should have the middle third of the threshold painted a contrasting color to make getting in and out safer.
- Manage Lighting and Glare: Control glare by providing cool white light centered over a task area, as too much light can be as much of a problem as too little light.
- Labeling for Identification: Label kitchen cabinet doors, drawers and countertop canisters with contrasting paper and a bold, sans-serif font to make identifying important food or cooking items easier.
- Food Contrast: Place light colored food such as white potatoes on a dark plate and place darker colored food such as green vegetables on a white plate for higher contrast and easier identification.
- Writing Aids: Encourage use of a black felt tip pen and light yellow paper for writing reminders or notes.
- Social Engagement Tools: Large-type playing cards or tactile versions of games will allow someone with vision loss to maintain social interaction and social contacts.
- Direct Communication: Always talk directly to the person with vision loss and do not talk around them by directing questions to a nearby relative or friend. Also don’t shout if a person has no significant hearing loss.
Conclusion
Supporting an elder with vision loss doesn’t require a complete renovation, but rather thoughtful, low-cost adjustments focused on contrast, clarity, and communication. By implementing these ten simple strategies, you can significantly enhance the safety of the home environment and improve the quality of life, confidence, and independence for the elder you are supporting. Small changes make a monumental difference.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider, such as an optometrist or occupational therapist, with any questions you may have regarding vision loss, safety modifications, or medical conditions.
Source
Dr. Cathy Stern, Optometrist, and FriendshipWorks
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