Practical Self-Help Tips

 

• When you cook, place utensils so they are arranged on your better side and more convenient for a one-handed approach.

 

• To stabilize items, place a rubber pad, rubberized shelf liner, or a dampened sponge cloth under your mixing bowl or cutting board.

 

• Line your sink with a rubber mat to prevent glasses or dishes from breaking if you drop them.

 

• To open a jar with one hand, place the jar inside a drawer and lean against the drawer with your hip. The base of the jar remains still while you turn the top.

 

• If you are using a one-handed can opener, place the can inside a pan before opening it to catch any spills.

 

• To transfer a pot from the counter to the stove, place the pot on a tray or cookie sheet with a raised rim and slide the tray instead of trying to lift the pot. 

 

• Use a plate or food guard, available in independent living catalogs, to keep food on your plate. If you have a reduced visual field on either side, remember to turn your plate a half turn after you finish eating to see if there is still food left on your plate.

 

• Use a one-handed rocker knife, available in independent living catalogs, for cutting and slicing. As you rock the handle up and down, the sharp, curved blade slices through the food.

 

• Keep work surfaces clear and free of clutter that can distract you. Use solid, non-patterned tablecloths and place mats to minimize visual confusion and provide maximum contrast.

 

• Use grab bars in the tub area and next to the toilet and use a bathtub bench or shower chair when bathing. Use a pump bottle of liquid soap instead of a bar.

 

Reproduced with permission of AFB Press, American Foundation for the Blind, from Maureen A. Duffy, "Additional Health Conditions" in Making Life More Livable: Simple Adaptations for Living at Home After Vision Loss, pp. 99-100, copyright ©2002 by AFB Press, American Foundation for the Blind. All rights reserved.