The Thomas Pocklington Trust have issued the following press release about their new guide Housing for people with Sight Loss-a Practical Guide to Improving Existing Homes.

THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST PRESS RELEASE: Making Home Improvements Count  -Six steps to safe and easy homes for older people

Home improvements to make life easier for people with sight loss are cheap and easy to carry out, according to a new guide published today by Thomas Pocklington Trust (1).  In a practical guide, the charity lists low-cost ways to improve homes for older people and those with sight loss – simple measures that can bring enormous benefits to the quality of people’s lives.  It presents them in a series of checklists, an easy-to-use format for all those involved in adaptations, refurbishments or basic maintenance of properties.   The guide, Housing for People with Sight Loss – a Practical Guide to Improving Existing Homes, (2) leads the reader through practical steps – what works and what can be done now to cater for failing eyesight.   

“Even when money is limited, there is no reason for people with sight loss to suffer homes that are hazardous or difficult to live in,” says Sarah Buchanan, Thomas Pocklington Trust Research and Development Manager.  “Low-cost improvements done as part of routine maintenance can dramatically change lives.” 

Most people over the age of sixty experience some deterioration in their vision, so keeping sight in mind will be beneficial to all housing schemes. Just the choice of colour, lighting and layout can make homes safer and easier to live in by reducing hazards, maximising sight and simplifying the location and use of basic appliances.  With an increasingly ageing population such changes will help the majority of people, whether or not they have sight loss, as well as helping people with other sensory loss. 

After extensive research with visually impaired people (3), six basic principles emerged, all proven in housing schemes to make a dramatic difference.

Involve people

·       People know what needs to change in their home but not how to change it.  Their input in discussing adaptations is vital if they are to enjoy the home they live in.

Improve lighting

·       Lighting can dramatically improve people’s vision and should be flexible and adjustable. ie with dimmer switches. 

·       “Task lighting” helps to focus on specific activities. 

·       Lighting inside cupboards and wardrobes makes finding things easier.

Colour and contrast

·       Choose paint colours that reflect light

·       Use contrasting shades of colour to highlight the position of objects.  Contrast colour strips on the edges of doors, bins, appliances and stairs show where these are and highlight potential hazards. 

·       Contrasting handles and knobs on doors and appliances, and on grab rails or equipment make it easier to locate and use them.

Avoid clutter

·       Plenty of space and logical layouts for routes, furniture and equipment makes it easier to move around.

·       Indoors, accessible storage space is essential.

·       Outdoors, pathways should not be overhung by plants or trees or obstructed by garden or street furniture.

Avoid glare.  It creates dazzle that may make it hard to see.

 ·       Use non-reflective materials, such as matt tiles and flooring, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.

·       Use lamp shades and vertical blinds to prevent glare from lights and windows.

Accessible appliances

·       Controls should be clear and, where possible, tactile or audible.

·       Putting simple tactile stickers on equipment, from cookers to kettles, can help. 

The new guide applies these principles to each area of the home – kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. - and offers essential checklists for reviewing possible improvements.  They include small changes, using everyday non-specialist equipment and resources, and can be part of routine maintenance and upgrading. They do not have to involve rebuilding or major refurbishment and should not be expensive or require expenditure to be made all at the same time. 

“We urge anyone who is involved in housing and can affect these changes to use our checklists and start implementing them now,” says Sarah Buchanan.  “Even basic choices, such as colour and lighting can be the crucial difference between safe, easy living and a life that is more difficult than it need be.”     

Editors Notes:  1.      Thomas Pocklington Trust is a charity which aims to improve the quality of life of people with sight loss.  It is a leading provider of housing, care and support services for people with sight loss in the UK, and is a major research and development body.  2.      Housing for People with Sight Loss – a Practical Guide to Improving Existing Homes was commissioned by Thomas Pocklington Trust in conjunction with The Wilberforce Trust and the Housing, Leaning and Improvement Network, and written by Nikki Joule and Ros Levenson.  It is based on research amongst people living with sight loss as well as managers and support staff working in both general and specialist housing.  For a PDF of the guide visit www.pocklington-trust.org.uk   3.      In 2008, Thomas Pocklington Trust launched Housing for People with Sight Loss – a Thomas Pocklington Trust Design Guide.  This was the first comprehensive guidance to draw on research with visually impaired people in order to influence design.  Today’s new guide takes the recommendations of that publication further, listing practical measures that are easy and inexpensive to incorporate into existing homes.  The Design Guide can be seen at www.pocklington-trust.org.uk