Many of you may know I hold the field of Occupational Therapy close to my heart. This site would not be complete without some tips I've gathered from experience that I think may be of some use with the problems we may face with IH. Please forward any suggestions you may have to add!

Vision

• Contrast is important. Creating contrast can be extremely helpful, and is simple and inexpensive. Use colored tape for the edges of stairways, the rim of your tub, or uneven doorways.
• Use magnifiers for seeing detail. Keep a small one with you for shopping.
• Make sure you have proper lighting. This seems so simple, but many people do not have sufficient lighting for their needs. Tall, three way lamps can be purchased from Walmart for under $20, and can illuminate a whole room!
• The kind of lighting you have plays an important role with IH'ers. You may want to use reduced glare light bulbs, and you may wish to purchase an anti-glare screen for your computer.
• If reading is straining your eyes, or you find yourself unable to clearly read the print, try "books on tape". They can be rented from your public library for a low fee. Unlike the days of old, most are now in CD format and do not require a special player.   
• Purchase a watch or clock that will speak the time and date to you, at the push of a button.
• Visit the Visual Aids.... page for software and products to assist you with visual problems on-line.

Memory Loss and Confusion

• You can improve your memory and maintain what you do have by exercising your mind. Simple activities to do this include-
• Brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand (left if a righty, and vice versa).
• Memorize (or attempt to), a song or poem.
• Take up a new hobby if you're able. You can perform activities such as knitting, bird watching, and wood carving, even when you're not feeling well.
• Work on a puzzle.
• Buy a book of large print mind games such as crosswords and word search.
• Stay abreast of current events, and discuss with others.
• Discuss concerns with your Doctor. If the problem becomes severe, medications may need to be altered.
• Stay physically active, maintain a healthy diet, and get enough sleep each night.
• Follow routines - your daily patterns can become easily imprinted in your brain, with less chance of forgetting the important chores of day-to-day.
• Use post-its for friendly reminders, or Yahoo's Calendar feature to send yourself reminders.
• Keep a Calendar close to where you sleep, so it is the first thing you see upon waking.

Fall Prevention

• With poor vision and balance, falls can become a very real threat.
• Remove or tape down securely any throw rugs.
• Tape down or re-route wiring that is exposed. 
• Sit in chairs (with arms) that aren't too low to the ground. Use the arms to push from, to help you stand and gain your balance safely.
• Remove clutter from high traffic areas.
• Try to wear shoes or slippers with rubber soled bottoms.
• Install a grab bar if necessary. There are many different sizes and colors available. Secure one in an area you may do a lot of standing such as your shower or in the kitchen.  

Hearing Loss

• If you have trouble hearing on the phone, your phone provider should be able to provide you with an amplifier at little to no cost.
• Contact your fire department. Most offer fire alarms that light up when they go off, for free.
• Doorbells can be wired to light up when they ring as well.
• When speaking with others, minimize background noise. Mute the TV, radio, etc.