The Balance Bulletin is designed to provide practical insights to help professionals, caregivers, and community partners support aging in place safely.

Step with Confidence: Fall Prevention Strategies for Vision Changes

As we age, it’s natural for our vision to undergo gradual changes. Many adults notice that reading small print becomes more difficult, adjusting to bright lights takes longer, and distinguishing between similar colors or contrasts isn’t as sharp as it once was. These changes are considered a normal part of aging and can often be managed with proper lighting, magnification, and corrective lenses.

But for some individuals, these typical age related adjustments are compounded by medical conditions that significantly impact vision. Diagnoses such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts can accelerate vision loss, making everyday tasks more challenging and increasing the risk of falls.

Home Modifications for Vision Changes

Occupational therapists play a key role in helping individuals adapt to these changes by using home modifications to maintain or even increase independence. OTs may recommend interventions like:

• Enhancing lighting and contrast
• Integrating assistive technology
• Organizing spaces for safety

These tailored interventions can make a meaningful difference in supporting individuals with vision changes to navigate their homes with confidence.

Product Spotlight: The Semi Smart Lamp

Proper lighting is crucial for those with low vision to maintain independence and safety at home. An adjustable lamp with brightness and color temperature controls can help reduce glare and improve contrast, making daily tasks easier and reducing the risk of falls.

• Remote Control: Allows individuals with shoulder mobility limitations or fine motor difficulties to turn the lamp on and off without reaching or manipulating small switches.
• Color Temperature Adjustment: Helps determine the best lighting fit for the individual. Warm light is often ideal for enhancing contrast and reducing glare, which can support low vision.
• 1 Hour Timer Function: Enables someone to keep the light on as they walk across a room, reducing the risk of navigating in the dark.
• No Wi Fi Required, Smart Home Adaptability: This type of lamp can function without Wi Fi or a smart home system. For those who prefer smart home integration, it can be adapted using a smart plug to allow voice activated or app based controls. A smart home system may also be an option depending on needs and preferences.

Incorporating adaptive lighting solutions can enhance quality of life for individuals experiencing vision changes by supporting daily activities safely and comfortably.

How to Involve an Occupational Therapist

Involving an occupational therapist early in the process helps ensure that modifications support both current and future needs. In many cases, occupational therapy services can be provided in the home through outpatient care models. Depending on location and payer rules, direct access may allow individuals to seek occupational therapy without first obtaining a physician order.

An OT can:

• Assess vision and functional needs: Identify challenges related to lighting, contrast, and spatial awareness to recommend practical layout and safety changes.
• Collaborate with contractors: Support best practices for accessibility such as glare reduction, improved lighting placement, and contrast based choices that consider changing vision over time.
• Recommend equipment and adaptations: Guide decisions on lighting solutions, tactile markers, contrast enhancements, and assistive tools to improve safety and usability.

By working with an OT, individuals with low vision can create a safer, more functional home environment tailored to their unique needs.

Mini Case Study: Enhancing Microwave Accessibility

Background

An 82 year old woman with age related macular degeneration lived independently but had increasing difficulty using her kitchen appliances, particularly her microwave. She relied on it for heating meals but struggled to see the buttons and read the digital display. The small, low contrast numbers made it challenging to set the correct cooking time, leading to frequent overheating or undercooking of food. She also had difficulty distinguishing between similar buttons, occasionally pressing the wrong one and feeling frustrated.

Challenges identified

• Difficulty reading small text and digital displays
• Trouble distinguishing between similar looking buttons
• Uncertainty about whether settings were correct, creating safety concerns

Occupational therapy intervention

An occupational therapist conducted an in home assessment to evaluate needs and make recommendations. The OT implemented the following modifications:

1. High contrast tactile markings
   • Raised bump stickers placed on essential buttons such as Start, Stop, and 30 Seconds for easy location by touch
   • A bold, high contrast marker placed on the Power button to reduce accidental selection of the wrong setting
2. Improved kitchen lighting
   • Added task lighting under cabinets to reduce glare and improve visibility at appliances
   • Warm LED lighting recommended to increase contrast without excessive brightness
3. Routine training and practice
   • Practice locating tactile markers and using consistent steps to operate the microwave
   • A simplified large print instruction sheet created for reference

Outcome

After these modifications, the individual reported feeling more confident and independent in the kitchen. She was able to use the microwave safely and efficiently without struggling to read small buttons. The tactile markers supported easier navigation of the control panel by touch.

By addressing both environmental and functional challenges, occupational therapy supported independence in meal preparation while reducing frustration and increasing confidence at home.

Closing thoughts

Thank you for being part of the movement to reduce fall risks and support aging in place. If you have questions, need resources, or want to collaborate, we’d love to hear from you.

Stay tuned for the next edition of The Balance Bulletin, where we’ll continue exploring practical solutions, case studies, and expert insights to keep homes safer for the people we serve.

Until then, stay balanced.

Happy at Home Consulting

Fall prevention, home safety, and practical support for aging in place