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When somewhere feels like home, it never really changes — but we do. If it's been a few decades since you first got your house keys, you might be old enough to experience hearing or vision impairments that make your living space less hospitable.
Fortunately, there are plenty of adjustments you can make to your home to accommodate vision and hearing problems. We'll go over some ways to continue living at home safely and comfortably when your senses aren't what they used to be.
For those who still have some level of sight, there are many relatively simple strategies for managing moderate vision loss at home. Light is your friend, so add floor and table lamps throughout the house to complement the overhead lights, and keep blinds and curtains open in the daytime. Get a handful of flashlights to leave in different rooms as an extra precaution.
Use colors to your advantage as well. Put brightly colored vases on tables to serve as guideposts, and drape vivid blankets over your favorite chairs so you can find them more easily. (Speaking of furniture, make sure any new pieces have solid colors instead of complex patterns that can trick the eye.) Placing fluorescent tape around light switches and on steps can help you navigate your home more carefully too.
People with severe vision loss, and those who are totally blind, will benefit from more permanent home modifications. Your sense of touch becomes more important when it's harder to see, so placing tactile strips throughout the house will help you feel your way from room to room. Grab bars can be installed in your bathrooms, and handrails in hallways and staircases, to prevent fall accidents in high-risk areas. You can also eliminate tripping hazards by getting rid of all your rugs and taping cords to the wall or floor.
One of the biggest challenges of living at home for people with hearing problems is responding to sound-based signals like alarms, doorbells, and ringing telephones. Several modern devices can help you get these alerts in other ways.
If you wear a smartwatch, you can set it to vibrate against your wrist when you get a call or an alarm goes off, and a smart doorbell system can message your phone or watch when someone's at your door. There are also pillow shakers that gently vibrate when it's time to wake up, if you're having trouble hearing your alarm clock.
Background noise is a bigger issue when you're hard of hearing, so take steps to reduce disruptive sounds from your environment. Carpeting is quieter than hard floor surfaces, but if you still prefer hardwood and tiles, you can lay down rugs and ask guests to wear slippers in your house. If appliances like the refrigerator or washing machine are loud enough to be agitating, make sure they're placed flat on the ground, and repair or replace them if the problem persists.
We've suggested some of the most common ways to adapt your home to hearing or vision loss, but we've barely scratched the surface of all the possible solutions. Experiment with different ideas to find out what works best for your particular situation, and please consult professional specialists for more targeted advice. We hope you enjoy many more happy years at home!
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