Hints and Tips
Many people, living with sight loss, live full, independent lives and have developed many skills over the years to ensure that their lives run smoothly. At a recent exhibition, some people shared their hints and tips with us and a selection of the many suggestions has been included below.
We have also included some hints and tips from the Beauty Sense leaflet from Action for Blind People, which is now out of print. We hope you find the information informative and useful.
If you have any hints and tips that you would like to pass on to others, please contact us at info@visibility.org.uk
Looking good
Use a rechargeable electric shaver with stainless steel blades when shaving.
To apply blusher, smile and brush the blusher onto the apples of your cheeks away from your nose towards your ear. Use a soft, rounded powder brush or a ball of cotton wool the size of a golf ball.
You only have to apply lipstick to your bottom lip. It will naturally cover the top. Pinch the sides of your mouth and the centre of the top lip to get rid of any excess. You may find that lip gloss is easier to apply than lipstick.
Avoid powder eye shadows as these can be difficult to apply. Instead try using a cream eye shadow which can be put on with your finger.
Consider having your eye lashes dyed. Then you can use a colourless mascara instead of trying to cope with a coloured wand.
Try putting a layer of Vaseline around the edges of your nails before applying nail polish. That way, if you make a mistake, it can be wiped off without staining.
In the home
Are you one of those people who are always losing your glasses, magnifier or other everyday items? If so, why not try this handy idea for a storage holster on your armchair. Take a double handed oven glove (that’s an oven glove that has the two hands connected by a strip of material). Place it over the arm of your armchair, so that one end hangs over the outside of the chair and one end hangs over the inside. Tuck the inside end between the cushion and the arm and the other end will form a handy pocket to keep your glasses etc. If you find that the oven glove slips to the floor, you can weigh the inside end with a small packet of dried rice or lentils (keep them in the packet!).
For people who use shampoo and separate conditioner put a rubber band on one bottle to identify them.
When sewing on a button that is the same colour as the garment, put tissue paper between the fabric and the button to show contrast.
I find electric cookers are much safer than gas cookers.
I use an iron guard on my iron so I do not burn my fingers. You can buy them in shops. You just smooth out the material with you hand, making sure to keep your hand in front of the iron. I also got someone to mark the settings on my iron.
I find spreading butter really hard. I end up with more on my fingers than on the bread. I wish someone could give me a tip for doing that better.
In the workplace
Larger monitors are better - not enough employers supply them. If you use the magnification on a small screen you do not get much information on the screen.
When talking to people I try to look at their forehead, then they think I am looking at them when we are talking, even though I can't see them clearly this way.
Keeping fit
Get a friend/relative to go to the gym with you and programme the machines for you. Keeping fit together is more fun.
Getting out and about
I find that people will always help if you approach them with a smile and ask them to read the price tag. It does not need to be the assistant, other customers are usually happy to help.
If there is a special offer, be careful to pick up the right article and not one that looks like it or you might get a shock when you get the bill. Always check that it is the one on special offer.
Many shops and chemists will deliver to your home free of charge if you are elderly or disabled. Ask at your local shops to see if they do this, but make sure someone is at home when they deliver!
In our area, buses often have the same number but different routes. I can see the number of the bus, but have to check the destination and route as soon as I get on.
When travelling on a train, I always ask someone at the gate whether this is the right train and then ask someone who is sitting on the train, if it is the train I am wanting. Only then can I relax.
