Practical Self-Help Tips

• Work for short periods, with planned rest periods in between. If you cook, keep a chair or stool near the stove so you can rest whenever you need to.
• Arrange your storage facilities so that the most frequently used items are placed within reach.
• Simplify cleanup by thinking ahead. Careful planning enables you to use a minimum of utensils and dishes.
• To reduce cleanup time and conserve energy, use oven-to-tableware or serve directly from the pot. If you mix ingredients directly in a casserole dish, you can eliminate the need to wash extra bowls, dishes, and utensils.
• After preparing a meal, organize items that need to be washed. Use a cart with wheels to bring dishes and pans to the work area and return them to cabinets and storage areas.
• Keep duplicates of cleaning supplies in different areas of your home to eliminate unnecessary walking from room to room.
• Use a long-handled dustpan to eliminate bending.
• Use a carpet sweeper or an electric broom instead of a heavier canister vacuum cleaner.
• Use an inexpensive back scratcher as a small reacher.
• Use grab bars in the tub area and next to the toilet and use a bathtub bench or shower chair when bathing.

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.