Doors can become a daily hazard for those with poor eyesight—doors left half-open can easily be bumped into.
If you live alone or if privacy is not an issue, you might consider removing the interior doors in your home to eliminate the problem. Another solution that provides some privacy is to replace doors with curtains. An added advantage to curtains is that wheelchairs can easily pass through them.
The thresholds of doors are a major source of falls for older people, especially the sight-impaired. If possible, all door thresholds should be planed or beveled down to make them as flush with the floor as possible.
Always put frequently used items such as keys, shoes, coats, toothbrushes, combs, pots, pans and glasses in the same place so you’ll remember where they are.
Try to develop a system for clothes in your closets, grouping your clothes by the season and the type of garment, and always put a certain type of food item in the same cabinet or part of the refrigerator.
Remember, it doesn’t matter whether someone else thinks your system makes sense—it should be based strictly on where you would look for something.
Over time you may come up with your own innovative solutions to help you function better in your home. After all, you have no control over the outdoors or any public buildings you may visit, but your home should reflect your needs and provide you with the greatest ease of operation possible.
Your local hardware store is a great resource for inexpensive items to help you mark things you have trouble seeing. If you have trouble finding the light switches in your home, the switch plates can be replaced with illuminated ones, and black tape can be placed around them.
Black or brightly colored tape can also be placed around the thermostat to help you find it. Bathrooms in which the floor tiles and fixtures are the same color can be extremely frustrating for those with low vision.
You can place black tape along the edges of bathtubs and sinks to make them stand out, and replace your white toilet seat with one of a darker color. And placing a dark-colored, non-skid mat in the center of the bathtub can help you locate the tub and also prevent you from falling.
If your home is on more than one level and seeing steps is a problem, you may want to consider moving to a house or apartment that has only one level. However, if moving is not an option, you can make your steps stand out by placing reflecting tape along the edge of every step. If the color of the tape contrasts sharply with your carpet color, this will help you see your steps better in the daytime and at night.
Reviewed on 2/14/2008