One of the simplest things you can do to make it safer to live in your chosen space, is adding more light. As we age we need proportionately more illumination to see what a younger person sees. Not just night lights -I am talking also about your daylight spaces. I have seen quoted a 60 year old needs twice as much light as a 30 year old. So that does not get any better into our seventies and eighties.
It harder for us to see details, we do not see contrast or color as well . That contrast is what helps you see the threshold/ the edge of the rug/the top of the stair There is not one magic light fixture, it is what works for you. But please realize you can not just put a 100 watt bulb in a fixture that only allows for 60 watts. The newer CF or LED bulbs give more illumination with less wattage. Be sure to read the small print…if you can.
Glare is another age related problem we often notice first when driving at night. Especially in the fall, that is when the ophthalmologists offices receive more calls and you start the discussion of when for cataract surgery. Not driving at night just to avoid this problem will limit your activities. You can not go anywhere without calculating if you will be back by dark. There are some glare cutting sun glass type lenses but check with your doctor.
Those who have the open concept/ great room in our houses have the additional problem of changing light bulbs that are 12 ft and up.. I purchased one the light bulb extenders it worked well to change out bulbs high up but then I almost tripped over the string attached. But it kept me off a high ladder.
So for those of us that just might wonder at night to the kitchen or bathroom, make a runway of night lights. It is very affordable. Some are a bit more expensive but come with back up for power failures.
Keeping up with your vision care and putting more illumination on your living space is a self rewarding activity.
