Low or impaired vision–whether due to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, or some other cause–can turn mundane activities in and around your home into safety hazards. Here are some tips to help you navigate daily home-based activities when you have low or impaired vision.*

General safety tips for low vision at home

• Experiment with general and task lighting to determine what’s optimal for you. More light, especially near stairs, doorways, room transitions, and appliances is typically safer.
• Remove or tack down area rugs, since they can curl or slip.
• Clear away clutter, and leave generous space between pieces of furniture. 
• Avoid colorfully- and ornately-patterned rugs and carpets, if possible.
• Gather wires and cords together and affix them to an out-of-the-way place.
• Use telephones with large numbers, and write emergency numbers in large print next to the phone.
• Keep all inside doors completely open or completely shut.

Tips for low vision safety in specific areas of the house

Inside your home, different rooms and transitional areas can present different hazards. Here are some tips for specific spaces like the bathroom, kitchen, and stairwells.

Bathroom 

• If your bathroom walls and floor are light-colored, choose dark-coloured towels and toilet seat cover for contrast.
• Install grab bars in the bath and shower.
• Lay non-slip mats inside the bath and shower.
• Use an electric razor instead of straight razors. 
• Use nail clippers and nail files instead of scissors.

Kitchen 

• Use kitchen scissors instead of knives to open food bags.
• Use a handheld jar opener.
• Wash knives with a long-handled brush.
• Use aids such as cheese, egg, and tomato slicers instead of knives.
• Turn saucepan handles away from you.
• Keep a fire-suppressing blanket handy.

Regarding hot drinks like tea and coffee, you can avoid burns from spills and overflow by: 

• Placing an electronic liquid-level indicator in the cup before pouring in the hot drink or boiling water. The device will beep when the water level reaches a safe level. 
• Using dark-coloured cups for light liquids and light-coloured cups for dark liquids.
• Placing a funnel inside your cup before pouring water to better direct the flow.

Stairwells

• Make sure there are railings on both sides of the stairs. 
• Place colorful, reflective, non-skid tape at the edges of each step. 
• Make sure that stairways are well-lit, and have guide-lights at night.

Safety tips for other specialized purposes

Some other ideas for remaining safe with low vision in your home and on your property include:

• If you use a clothesline to dry your clean laundry, keep it above head-height.
• Label medication bottles and packaging with large, easy-to-read print, brightly-colored tabs, or tactile indicators that you can differentiate by feel.
• If you have a yard or garden:
  • Cut off low tree branches.
  • Clearly differentiate pathways, and keep them well-lit and clear of clutter.
  • Use unique ornaments to help orient yourself.
  • Pad the tops of garden stakes.
  • Coil and put away the water hose when you’re done with it.

There are many ways to stay safe and independent in your own home if you think ahead, get creative, and make a few adjustments.

*Better Health Channel. (n.d.) Vision loss – safety around the home. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/vision-loss-safety-around-the-home 

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