AN RP'S DREAM HOME

AN RP'S DREAM HOME
by June Ombler

This is the first of a series of articles about what you need in your home and garden if you are an RP, that will assist you in making the most of your remaining sight. Further articles will be on "Designing your kitchen", "Designing your bathroom" and "Lighting your Home". As RP's usually notice something is wrong with their sight when they have difficulty seeing things at night, this article is written with that in mind. I am an RP with very little sight remaining and these tips are what I have gradually installed in and around my home over the years.

Imagine that you have just lost your driver's licence and, as you live in an area where you depend on being able to drive, you decide that you must move to a more RP friendly location in order to retain your independence. What would you feel essential to cope with your diminishing sight, now and in the future, in this new location? What kind of house do you need?

* Buy or choose a section or house within a few minutes walk of your local shopping centre. Failing that, buy or choose a section within easy walking distance to a frequent bus service.
* Buy a single storied house if you can.
* Have a pale concrete path from the front gate to the front and back doors.
* Plant an easily seen feature each side of the back and front doors. This could be silver leaved shrubs on each side of the entrances or perhaps a raised bed or tub painted white containing plants with white or yellow flowers.
* Hang wind chimes in a breezy spot near the front and back doors.
* Paint the edges of any outside steps white and also install a white painted handrail to steady yourself when going up and down these steps.
* Install porch lights that automatically turn on when you approach entrance doors.
* Design your garden with raised beds for shrubs and flowers so that you do not walk into them unexpectedly. Silhouettes of trees seen against the sky help you to establish where you are in the garden.
Having got all that sorted out, let's go inside ...
* Get rid of floor rugs as they cause tripping.
* Have sliding cupboard doors wherever you can, or keep them closed at all times after use to avoid damaging yourself.
* Do not have pointed ends on your door handles. They can hit and bruise you frequently. Rounded ones are best.
* If you decide to have any full length glass doors, be very sure that they are well marked in some way with a stick on band, or even two, as they are lethal and can cause serious injury to any adult or child that does not see them in their way.
* Make good use of contrast in your house. For instance, you can paint all door and window surrounds in a contrasting colour to the walls and doors. Similarly, make good use of contrast in your living areas, such as pale carpets with dark chairs and pale cushions.
* Do not have low coffee tables or glass topped occasional tables. They are an RP's nightmare as they cause many gashes and bruises on one's shins.
* All tables should have rounded corners.
* If you have any floors that need polishing, use a product that is slip proof when cleaning or polishing them.
* Vertical blinds are good for a sunroom or rooms with large windows, as eventually RP's get very sensitive to glare. Vertical blinds are easily adjusted to let in the amount of light that suits you.
* Have a separate room or area designated for your computer, CCTV and other equipment used in your office where there is no window behind them to let in unwanted light. Wall mounted swinging lamps over the desk top can give you control over the amount of light you need in this area.
* If you have any children, have a designated area for their toys and teach them why they must keep their toys in this space and not scatter them all over the room.

This list is not complete or infallible as all RP's see a little differently from other RP's. It is just a start to get you thinking.