Sight loss tips for the kitchen
Our Rehabilitation Officers for People with Vision Impairment (ROVIs) share their top tips for the kitchen for those living with a vision impairment.
Making hot drinks
- A small kettle, rather than a large one, is easier to lift when pouring hot liquids.
- When pouring liquid into something with a narrow opening, such as a hot water bottle, use a large funnel with a narrow spout to help avoid spills.
- Put a ping-pong ball into your teapot to help with pouring so you know that the teapot is full when the ball rises to the top.
- You can also use a liquid-level indicator to help you safely pour hot drinks. Attach the device to the side of your mug or cup and it’ll beep when it’s full so you know when to stop pouring.
Setting the table
- Use a place mat in a contrasting colour to your plate to make your plate easier to locate.
- Plain plates with a single colour can help you identify your food more easily as patterns can often be confused for food.
- Use coloured mugs and glasses as they stand out more than clear ones and are easier to locate.
- Placing a coloured ping-pong ball into clear glasses offers colour contrast and will allow you to see the glass more easily.
- If you struggle to differentiate between similar-shaped bottles, for example tomato ketchup and brown sauce, wrap an elastic band around one of them to make it easy to tell them apart.
Using switches and dials
- A microwave with dials can be easier to use than one with buttons as there is usually one dial for the power settings and another for the timer.
- Bumpons are small, self-adhesive raised rubber dots that you stick to surfaces to make them easier to identify. They come in a variety of colours, and you can use them on light switches, microwave dials, washing machine buttons, and even remote controls and telephones.
Where to go for help
RNIB provides information and advice about sight loss, and also sells specialist aids and equipment. Contact their helpline on 0303 123 9999, email them or say ‘Alexa, call RNIB helpline’ to an Alexa-enabled device.
If you're a Blind Veterans UK beneficiary and need more information, you can also call our helpline on 0300 111 22 33.
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