| The physical environment in which older people live can have
a significant influence, both positive and negative, on their ability
to maintain independence and a high quality of life. Environments
should be created to enable older people to make the best possible
use of their vision. There are three areas which should be considered:
illumination, glare and color contrast.
Illumination: Appropriate lighting in each room of one's
home will make activities easier and safer. It is wise to have lamps
in different areas of a room to provide adequate overall illumination.
Direct light sources near chairs and tables is essential. When reading,
ensure that light is directed on the printed matter. Illuminate
entrances, exits and stairwells. To save on electricity costs, many
older adults do not adequately illuminate rooms. Dimmer switches
and three-way light bulbs permit adjustable levels of light and
maximize electrical efficiency.
Glare: Reducing glare in an indoor environment benefits
all older people, especially those with cataracts. Glare can hinder
sight and may lead to unnecessary falls. Light-reflecting surfaces,
such as glossy plastic tablecloths and highly-waxed vinyl or linoleum
floors, are particularly troublesome for older people. Glare can
be reduced and often eliminated with non-glare wax. Covering flat
surfaces with dull (matte) finish tablecloths and placemats will
also reduce glare. Windows should have blinds or shades that can
be drawn to protect a room from sunlight glare.
Color Contrast: Using colors to create contrast in a home
environment is an important step in helping visually impaired people
improve their daily functioning. Closely-related colors or shades
may blend together, making it impossible for a visually impaired
person to perceive differences. For example, if a white plate is
placed on a white tablecloth, and the plate contains rice, cauliflower
and fish, a person with low vision may be unable to differentiate
anything on the table or the plate. It would be better to use a
dark cloth with a white plate and serve peas instead of cauliflower.
Similarly, if carpets and furniture are all in the same color family,
it may be hard to distinguish specific items. Try to introduce color
contrasts wherever possible to differentiate objects such as doorknobs
or switches.
When vision loss is severe, additional products and special services
are available to help people maintain independence at home and in
the community. There are several commercial products which may help
older adults with severe vision loss. These include large print
clocks and telephone dials; sewing aids; bold color marking devices;
pouring devices; and "Talking" watches, scales, thermometers
and calculators. For leisure activities, large print playing cards
are available. Games like checkers, bingo and scrabble have been
adapted for people with vision loss.
The Library of Congress lends special cassette players and books
on tape to the visually impaired. Details are available at all local
libraries. Many cities offer special radio programming for people
with visual impairments. Older people with vision loss may need
special services, such as mobility instruction to travel independently
in the community or rehabilitation instruction in techniques of
daily living and home management. Professional instructors can assess
a person's functional ability, recommend useful products and, when
appropriate, teach severely visually impaired people to compensate
for vision loss. For more information, contact your local agency
for the visually impaired or one of the agencies listed. |
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