Showing posts with label low vision. Show all posts
Showing posts with label low vision. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Reviewing Liquid Level Indicators For People With Sight Loss.

 liquid level indicator

A Liquid level indicator is not something I  had heard of until my husband was diagnosed with severe sight loss-blind.

 It is surprising all the little things you take for granted when you are sighted and how much you need to relearn or adapt with sight loss. 

Simply making a hot drink, a tea, a coffee had become some thing just a little more difficult for my husband. We did not know what he was supposed to do to know how high the hot water was. Did he just put his finger at the top of the mug and risk being burned, or did he give up making hot drinks altogether?

 Even cold drinks were an issue as unless made over the sink we could have many spills to clear up.

Making a hot drink became a real challenge. We worried that he would burn himself or spill hot or cold liquids over the worktops and floor, it then itself becoming a safety hazard, or put his hand in hot liquids. Suddenly something that most adults take for granted became an issue and a lack of independence.  

We went to an information session soon after he was diagnosed. It was all a little overwhelming but we noticed that the drinks were being made by a blind person and we kept hearing these little bleeps and I noticed a small device hung over the mugs. It wasn't long before the session began and drinks were handed out. So I asked what is that device you used and he started to explain. 

In this article we will be using the terms severe sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.


liquid level indicator


What Is a Liquid Level Indicator And How Does It Work?

It is a small device that clips  or hangs onto the edge of a cup, mug, soup mug or glass. 

1. Place it so that the metal prongs are on the inside of the container. Often there are two levels of prongs one for a general alert - this is when you should stop pouring. However, If you carry on pouring there is often an emergency alert when you must stop pouring. 

2.Then you simply pour the liquid as usual from the kettle, tap or jug. 

3. As the level of the liquid rises the liquid touches the metal prongs and device uses sound or vibration to let you know when the mug, glass, jug or whatever is nearly full. 

4. These alerts give you enough time to stop pouring before the liquid reaches the top. 

5. Then you stop and take the device off the mug or glass. Simple as that ! 


There are different models to choose from but that is the essentials of every Liquid level indicator. It then all depends what you are wanting and what is most helpful to a person individually.

  • Most have an alert when the liquid nearly reaches the top.
  • Many have two alert levels, one when the mug or glass is nearly full and one emergency alert when it is nearly to the top. 
  • Some have bleeping and vibration when liquid is reaching the top.
  • Some advanced models differentiate between hot and cold liquids, offering stronger alerts for hot drinks to enhance safety. We don't have that one, but may consider it for the future. 
  • I have also heard of "smart" models which link to a smartphone but these are not common and  I have not experienced one.

My husband is happy with our quite straightforward model which bleeps and vibrates when the liquid is close to the top. It is clear, simple and effective. 

It takes only a very little time to get used to using it and to remember to use it, but it is not a steep learning curve. There are no courses to go on or skills you need to know. It is just practice and habit.

My husband said it is very easy for him to use. It is a good idea to start with a cold drink and then progress to hot drinks once you feel  confident. 

 Liquid level indicator in BlueCheck Price

 


Why Does Being Able To Make A Simple Drink Matter?

For many people with severe sight loss, pouring drinks is a significant and frequent challenging task throughout the day. Think about how many times you make a drink in a typical day ! 

Especially when making hot drinks, it becomes a safety issue and can carry a real risk of burns. Not being able to make a drink safely robs a person of autonomy and independence.

A liquid level indicator helps

  • Preventing burns from overfilled hot drinks, or feeling the need to stick a finger in the cup to test how far the liquid has reached, which is a significant safety risk. 
  • Reducing spills and cleaning them up.
  • Reducing the risk of slipping on wet floors
  • Supporting independence and confidence in normal, everyday tasks
  • Supports a person with sight loss still being able to make drinks for themselves and friends and family.
  • For people who live alone it is essential to be able to make a drink safely. 
  • Even if living with other people or at work, the ability to make a drink for yourself and others is a small but significant sign of independence. My husband now loves to make me a hot drink of coffee in the morning and it is a lovely start the day !
  • Although primarily used by people who are diagnosed severe sight impaired or partially sighted, this device can also be useful to people who have tremors or motor impairments and people who may have declining vision, macular degeneration, cataracts or other sight issues. 


 Liquid level indicator in BlackCheck Price

 


Features To Consider In A Liquid Level Indicator

  • Audible alerts, look for clear, loud beeps
  • Vibration mode is useful if the person also has hearing loss or just prefers a vibration rather than a noise. The vibration should be strong enough to feel through the hand holding the container.
  • Some have both audible and vibration alerts which can be useful in busy, noisy places.
  • Magnetic can be useful. We love ours as it sticks the fridge freezer so takes up no room on worktops and is vey easy for my husband to find.
  • Lightweight and easy to carry so it can be taken when travelling and visiting friends and family, to hotels etc.
  • Heat resistant as clearly it needs to be safe to use with very hot drinks.
  • A good battery and/or rechargeable battery
  • A good price, many are not expensive, it all depends how sophisticated you would like it to be, but a basic model works well. Some organisations and sight loss charities provide them at a reduced cost.


So a liquid level indicator is another example of a low tech, reasonably priced and simple device that can make a huge difference to independence, confidence, dignity and safety for a person with sight loss. It is now just a part of our kitchen devices and appliances and we would not be without it. 


More Useful Reviews To Read 


Read More Reviews By Raintree Annie


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Reviewing Liquid Level Indicators For People With Sight Loss by Raintree Annie.



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Reviewing Understanding Bumpons or Bump Dots for People With Sight Loss

 

Orange Bump dots on boiler settings


As some of you may know my husband was diagnosed severe sight impaired blind a while ago. We are still learning together how best to manage this huge life change and how to maintain his independence and dignity.  Since then we have looked into and been guided towards tools and gadgets that may be helpful. 

When we think about what is helpful for people who are severe sight impaired or partially sighted we often think of the big things like specialist softwear or high tech gadgets, guide dogs and canes. It can all actually be quite overwhelming. 

However there is a very simple inexpensive tool that is actually very useful and helpful and can make a huge difference in someone’s independence.


In this article we will be using the terms sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.


What Are Bumpons Or Bump Dots?

An odd name i thought at first, but Bumpons as they are known in UK or Bump dots in US and also called tactile markers, are brightly coloured, raised rubber, plastic or silicone small sticky pads. They are commonly used by people who are blind, partially sighted or have low vision and many senior people find them useful too.  

They are available in different sizes, colours, shapes and textures and they’re designed to be felt easily with the tip of your finger. You can normally buy them in sheets and they are very inexpensive and versatile.

 Despite being bright colours they are discrete and seem to become background furniture very quickly. Most visitors to our home do not even notice them, but they make a world of difference to my husband. 


Orange bump dot on door handle keyhole

The Benefits Of Bumpons Or Bump Dots

There is no training required and using them becomes natural and  intuitive very quickly. There is thankfully no technology to learn or be trained in and no short or long courses to go on which is a big bonus. 

We can buy Bump dots in different colours, shapes and textures for unique purposes which again helps to differentiate objects, settings etc 

They do not appear to so far at least have damaged objects or technology or in our experience upvc or appliances. I wouldn't stick them to wallpaper, photos or fragile surfaces though.  We are careful when removing them from appliances and doors but so far have not experienced any damage. 


How Do Bump Dots Or Bumpons Help A Person With Sight Loss?

They are easily stuck on to most surfaces, we simply peel off the sheet and stick on, you don't need glue or anything else.

 Once firmly in place Bump dots act as a cue to a person who can feel for it with their fingertip.

We can stick them onto most objects and they are very helpful to identify settings, buttons or positions on appliances and other things.

These bumpons help my husband to navigate our home more safely and do more things for himself that he would otherwise need to ask me to do. At first they seem strange but we quickly learned and gained confidence.

Bump dots rely on tactile memory. This is the ability to recognise shapes and textures by touch. When a person experiences sight loss, whether it is gradual or sudden, touch often becomes a very important way of navigating the world. Bump dots make this process a little easier. 

Once we set up the bumpons we kept them the same type of bumpon in the same place, so that my husband could learn and remember them. 



 BLEWAY BUMP DOTSCheck Price


How We Use  Bumpons or Bump Dots  At Home.

I have to admit when we were faced with this sheet or orange round bumpons, our first ones, we were a little unsure where to put them! However once you start its hard to stop. 

Bear in mind to be flexible, some surfaces may not take a bump dot as easily and some may drop off some surfaces, so it is in our experience a bit of trial and error, but not too much and we quickly found what worked for us.  Make sure the surface is clean and dry first. 

Also be very careful if your household has small children or pets. These are very small dots of material and could be easily swallowed so just apply a common sense attitude and keep out of reach.  

So here is a list of just a few examples. 


  • Marking the front and back doors keyhole. This was actually the first thing we did. This is crucial in the event of a fire, but also very useful for everyday. To be honest this is useful for both of us in the event smoke or fire obscures the vision of where the keyhole is and could be lifesaving if the keys are not in the door at the time.  
  • Identifying the front door key on a keyring- also very important as a safety and security measure and saves the annoyance, embarrassment  or panic if you cannot find the correct key for the door. Also I am finding it very useful in the dark. 
  • Marking key buttons on a remote control. This while not a safety feature, can make life a little easier and more independent. 
  • Marking the on/off button on a microwave. We have found digital microwaves to be tricky to manage with his sight loss but a bumpon the on /off switch is at least useful. 
  • Identifying the common temperature settings on an oven dial. My husband loves to cook, so we are still learning tips how to make this a continued safe and enjoyable life skill and hobby. We adopt the attitude not that  he can't do it , but how can he do it safely. We are avoiding all digital cookers as they are not user friendly for him. 
  •  Locating the power button on the blender. Our blender is new to both of us so we chose one that would be simpler for sight loss and it is working very well.
  • Identifying the boiler heat and water settings. We stick a bumpon on the dial to the temperature we use most for the heating and the water. We currently do change this in winter ad summer but we are thinking of getting a different  size bump on to differentiate between winter and summer settings. 
  • Highlighting the preferred cycle on a washing machine, as we have two we use a lot i put one bumpon for the delicate cycle and two bumpons for the easy care cycle. However, ours is not the easiest machine for my husband as it is mainly digital, so we have found this more difficult to manage. We are learning as we go and when we come to change machines will bear his sight loss needs in mind.  
  • Labelling shampoo and conditioner bottles, ours look so similar in the bottles we have one for shampoo and two for conditioners. I have noticed they can drop off from time to time if they get too wet on our bottles, or pulled off accidentally, but are easily replaced and this removes the frustration of accidentally washing with conditioner!  

 MULTIPLE SIZES ,COLOURS BUMP DOTCheck Price


Our 8 Top Tips for Using Bumpons or Bump Dots.

If you are sighted and trying to assist always be directed and led by the person who has low vision or sight loss.

A sighted person may place the dots, or a person with low vision may place the dots, whichever suits your situation.  


  1. Think where the bumpons would be most useful. It really is best not to assume. A walk though of the home is very useful or if that is too overwhelming one room at a time or just one appliance at a time. 
  2. Find the place where you naturally place your finger to find controls or watch where the person with sight loss naturally places their finger to find the control or keyhole or whatever and place the dot there, not where you think it ought to be placed. 
  3. Try it out a few times to check it actually is in the correct place and useful in that position. 
  4. If there is some vision or can see colours, choose bright colours dots to contrast with the surface they are to be placed on for example red or orange dots on a white background appliance do show up really well for some people. 
  5. If you buy Bump dots with different shapes or different levels of raised parts they are useful to differentiate between opposite functions for example on a remote control. 
  6. With a mobile phone it can be useful to place a dot on the emergency call button if there is a manual/tactile one. Likewise with a landline if it has buttons to place a bump dot on the 9 button for emergency 999 calls if in UK or  the 9 and 1 buttons for 911 calls if in US, or which ever countries code you use for emergency calls. 
  7. Always keep an extra sheet of bump dots in the house as inevitably they will wear out in time and will need to be replaced immediately once the person has got used to them, in order to retain independence. 
  8. If you travel it is useful to take a sheet with you to use temporarily while in a hotel for example on the remote or the door. Just check with the manager if its ok to place them  and carefully remove before you leave. 

 RED BUMP DOTSCheck Price


So for a little dot these bumpons or bump dots do a very important job and are actually more empowering and independence giving than I first thought. When my husband first became blind we were introduced to a lot of high tech, very expensive items, much of which are still in the wish list. However, in fact these little bumpons have probably been one of the most useful items of everything we got for sight loss in our home. If you are dealing with sight loss or know some one who is, they may be well worth considering. 


More Useful Reviews To Read 


Read More Reviews By Raintree Annie

Read More Product Reviews on ReviewThisProducts.com

Reviewing Sensory Garden For A Person With Sight Loss Part One



Reviewing Understanding Bumpons or Bump Dots for People With Sight Loss By Raintree Annie





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Reviewing Benefits And Features Of Talking Clocks

 .Black and white colour contrast talking clock


Since my husband was diagnosed as severe sight impaired -blind, we have been exploring technology and devices that may help him. One of these we were advised to look into is a talking clock. 

This simple device is designed to audibly announce the time, and the date. For the model we have you simply press the top once for the time and keep it held down for the date to be announced as well.

It is of course very useful for anyone who has sight loss. However we have found it is also useful for me when I quickly want to know the time and date and through learning more about them I realised they can be very beneficial for many other people as well.

In this article we will be using the terms severe sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.

Empowering People With Sight Loss

For people who experience sight loss whether they are severe sight impaired or have low vision, checking the time can be a significant challenge and not being able to tell the time by yourself can be a real curb on independence. 

Prior to getting the talking clock my husband had to ask me the time whenever he wanted to know. This immediately made him feel less independent and for me it was not always convenient. For my husband it was a constant reminder of his sight loss that he had to ask a sighted person whenever he needed or wanted to know the time. 

Traditional clocks rely on us being able to read the numbers or roman numerals often at a distance. Some are very difficult to see if they have patterns or pictures and different colours. People with any degree of sight loss will have different needs and preferences.

My husband needs very clear bold black numbers on a white background with zero distractions and it needs to be very large. The clock would also need to be free from sunlight or glare hitting it, yet bright enough so he can make out the numbers. This is not always possible and we quickly realised it would be difficult to site such a large clock and give it the correct site to make it possible for him to read it. 

The talking clock eliminates this barrier completely by providing a clear, spoken announcement of the time with the press of a button or depending on the clock also the date or even via scheduled verbal alerts.

A talking clock can really help towards independence, allowing people with sight loss of varying degrees  to manage their daily routines without needing assistance from a sighted person.

You can choose a basic talking clock that can help you by simply telling the time and knowing the correct date, or more advanced models. Either way a talking clock gives a much higher level of independence.


 Extra Large Talking Button Clock - for The Blind, Elderly or Visually impairedCheck Price


Some talking clocks do not have any readable indicators while others may have a digital reading of date, time etc in large text. It all depends on what you personally need and find useful. 

The advanced models can do many tasks and have different features. I have listed some features here to give you an idea of what can be available. 

  • Tell the time
  • Tell the date.
  • Set alarms
  • Organise appointment and social dates
  • Birthday and special day reminders
  • Chime on the hour
  • Reminders to take medication
  • Different levels of brightness on the display 
  • Customisable themes.
  • Customisable language
  • Lighting differentiates time zones during the day/night
  • Temperature readouts
  • Activated by voice controlled commands.
  • Some with no visual display, others with large size and contrasting visual displays


Talking Clock showing large black button on white contrast
Black and white contrast talking clock showing large button to activate


 Who Else Could Benefit From A Talking Clock? 

Clearly a talking clock can assist people with a visual impairment. However it does not stop there.

It got me thinking who else may benefit from a talking clock and I believe it may help older people who might have difficulty reading clock faces from a distance, perhaps even young children who need to know the time and have not yet reliably learned to read a clock face or digital clocks.

They would be a useful aid for people who cannot learn to tell the time on a clock, or for people who through various illnesses, learning difficulties, disabilities, who have memory issues, or dementia find reading a standard clock more challenging.

Additionally, talking clocks might benefit elderly people who may struggle with small text on standard clocks, and the advanced models might assist professionals who need to keep track of their schedule.

Talking clocks simplify timekeeping, and if technology is for anything surely it should be to make our lives a little easier. 


【Upgraded】Digtal Clock with Voice-Talking Day and Date for Seniors, 19 Alarms & Custom Reminders, 10-Level Auto Dimmer, Auto DST, 8 Colors Display Clock for Elderly Dementia Alzheimers, with Remote【Upgraded】Digtal Clock with Voice-Talking Day and Date for Seniors, 19 Alarms & Custom Reminders, 10-Level Auto Dimmer, Auto DST, 8 Colors Display Clock for Elderly Dementia Alzheimers, with RemoteCheck Price


Talking Clocks Are Convenient

Clearly talking clocks are a useful aid for a person with sight loss. However as we have found they can also be really beneficial to those with out sight loss. We now have several talking clocks around the house in places we regularly walk past and I now find my self using the talking clock much more than the sighted clock!

It is very unobtrusive, ours is a simple black and white device  certainly small enough to carry and light. It manages to both blend into the decor and yet be noticeable enough so my husband knows where it is.

Other clocks may have different colours such as blue, red or yellow and be smaller or larger. Many can be placed on a surface and some can be wall mounted. It all depends on what the person prefers. 

I especially use it for knowing the date especially if I don't have the computer or TV on. I often don't have the right glasses on to see our wall clocks and it is so convenient to punch the talking clock as I walk past and get the time and date so easily. 

You can buy talking clocks that are very simple and so easy to use with just the time and date or you can get advanced ones with a multitude of features and tasks. 

It has become a normal way to tell the time in our house. We didn't plan it this way but it does make my husband feel better that we just use his talking clock as a normal device, rather than just his special device to tell the time. 


 ORKA Talking Clock. Voice Recordable Ex Large Medication Pill Reminder. Talking Alarm Clock for Dementia, Hearing, Visually impaired Seniors-Digital Day Clock with Multiple Customized Alarms WhiteCheck Price



Aspects Of Talking Clocks To Be Aware About.

While I think generally they are a huge benefit, there are a few things to be aware of. 

Talking clocks can be run on batteries or plugged into electricity points, both have their good and bad points. We have the ones run on batteries and felt these were more portable, so that they can be taken into different rooms and taken with us on holiday. Clearly we need to make sure we always have a stock of replacement batteries either single use or ideally rechargeable.

If we had an electric model it could be plugged in around the house without the need or worry to keep a stock of batteries handy.  However, there is always the risk that in the event of a power cut or power outage it of course would not work. It is important if buying an electrical one to ensure that the features and time automatically reset after a power cut or outage is over. 

The solution is probably to have one of each, some of the electric models seem to carry more features, yet the battery ones are simpler, easy to use and more portable.  

By the very fact the talking clock is a fairly loud announcement of the time, it is impossible to privately check the time! So for example if you just wanted to check the time to see if guests ought to be leaving or a meeting has gone on too long, it is really a public announcement. They are not ideal in situations where discretion is required!

A talking clock can take a little time to get used to. At first my husband did keep asking me the time and I reminded him to use the talking clock, after a few days or weeks it is just a normal habit.

The fact it is an audible time check can be disturbing if there are others in the house having quiet time or sleeping.

It may be more disruptive if there are several people in the house, who may not want to know the time in this way and might find it disturbing.  

While it is loud enough, if the environment was noisy or lots of people were talking or music playing it might be more difficult to clearly hear it. 

You need to choose the clock voice that works best for you. It all depends on the model if you can customise the voice and some of the voices might not suit you. Some voices are clearer and more calm than others. So it is worth checking which voice the model uses and if you are able to customise it.


 GOLOZA 7'' Digital Calendar Clock, Talking Clock with 10 Volumes, 6 Display with 10 Color Modes, Auto Dimmable, Alarms & Birthday & Holiday Reminders, 3 Pill Reminders Clocks for Kids Adults SeniorsCheck Price


We both feel the positives far outweigh any negatives and now would not be without it. We agreed at the outset of my husbands diagnosis of severe sight impaired that we would do everything possible to maintain his personal autonomy and independence. This little device of a talking clock has certainly been very helpful in this respect. 


Advancements in Talking Clock Technology

Our talking clocks are models that tell the time and date and can be used to set an alarm. At the present we are happy with these features but there are models that can do much more. 

There are a range of talking clocks now from the basic time and date clock to ones which integrate with smart devices and use Artificial Intelligence. 

Some have customised features or a choice of features and languages. As mentioned previously there are talking clocks which also set date reminders, medicine reminders and alarms. 

Of course there are also talking watches which is on our wish list for something else to help my husband. 

Technology is advancing and if it can assist in keeping people more independent for as long as possible that is a positive. 


I think a talking clock would make a very thoughtful gift for anyone who is finding it difficult to see or read a standard clock. 

It might seem a small thing, many of us take for granted until we cannot do it,  but being able to tell the time and date by yourself is a huge deal for self esteem and independence.  

As the talking clock technology evolves I think it will become increasingly useful and versatile, not only for people who are sight impaired, but for many people. 


Read More Product Reviews on ReviewThisProducts.com 






Reviewing Benefits And Features Of Talking Clocks by Raintree Annie





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Reviewing Sensory Garden For A Person With Sight Loss Part One

 Golden yellow rubekia flowers


My husband has been gradually losing his sight and this is something we both need to learn and adjust to.

One of the areas I have been looking into recently is how to have a garden that will be beautiful, fun and interesting to him as his sight declines. We are also anticipating a house move in the next few years  to make life easier long term so I am looking into what will work and how I need to change my gardening style. 

There are always five elements to take in to account when making a garden and these revolve around the five senses of

Smell, Hearing, Sight, Touch and Taste and then the next important area is safety.

It is vital that we work together on this project so that I understand what he wants and needs from the garden. Our aim is to retain his independence as much as possible in all areas of life and that includes the garden.

We aim to arrange it so that he will know where he is in the garden by the location of key plants and structures and take notice of the five senses.  

In Part One we will discuss the senses of Smell, Touch and Sound and in Part Two we will discuss Sight, Taste and Safety. 

I have presented these elements in the order my husband would like me to concentrate. I find the best approach to be led by him in what he needs and wants in the garden. 

In this article we will be using the terms sight impaired, blind, low vision, partially sighted and sight loss as these are the current acceptable terms in my country for people with sight loss. This may change over time and be different in different countries. No offence is intended by any of these terms.

Elements To Address in The Garden

Smell : Scent: Scented Plants

Touch : Different textures and feel. Safe to Touch Plants

Hearing : Sound: Windchimes Water Features and Birds

Sight : Colour and form, Light

Taste : Fruit, veg and herbs Edible Plants. Avoid poisonous plants. 

Safety : Moving around independently and safely


Sense Of Smell-Scent


Scented Sweet Peas In Vase- red, purple, pink colours
Scented Sweet Peas

Scented plants are very important in any garden but particularly when thinking of a person with sight loss. I am aware of many scented plants. The next step was to ask which scented plants he preferred, so I made sure I included those. 

I will not be limited to these plants though as I always think it is good to have surprises. Some plants are all year round scent from leaves, others only have scent for a part of the year they are in flower. 

We discussed having these plants mainly in raised beds so that it is easier to smell them and easier to maintain, plus better to be able to give them the conditions they like. In addition, the plants that have Mediterranean origins like free drainage, difficult to provide on our mainly heavy clay soil.

So we will plant:-

Lavender

Lemongrass

Basil

Thyme

Rosemary

Jasmine

Salvia

Scented Sweet peas

Artemisia

Curry plant

Scented roses

Thyme

Honeysuckle

Chamomile

Scented Daffodils

Cushion Bush/Silver sand 


Rosemary with light blue to mauve tiny flowers
Rosemary


Sense Of Touch

Although I love plants like Holly and pyracantha, they are both very prickly and  it is not a great idea to have them central in a garden suitable designed for a sight impaired, partially sighted or blind person. 

A better idea is to have plants that can be touched safely and that do not mind being touched. 

Some of these plants can be the same as the ones with lovely distinctive scents, many have leaves that are evergreen and release amazing scent when touched. Also they are not harmed by being touched.


Choysia shrub pale yellow leaves and white flowers

So we will plant:-

Choisya Shrub

Curry plant

Artemisia

Lavender

Rosemary 

Chamomile

Lambs ears


White scented roses
White Scented Roses

A reality check are our love of roses. Now roses usually have thorns which is not a great idea. However we both adore roses and do not want to give them up so we worked on what we hope is a solution by planting roses in raised beds and surrounding them with lavender and chamomile. 

That way my husband will know if he smells or feels lavender or chamomile he has a safe space before he gets to roses. However once in flower the roses will have a gorgeous scent he can enjoy safely.

Sense Of Hearing -Sound

Plants

In the garden sound can be achieved by  plants making the sound such a bamboo or grasses. The distinctive rustling in the wind or a gentle breeze is a lovely sound for anyone and makes it a restful place for a bench to sit and listen. 

Wind Chimes

Materials are also useful in making a sound such as wind chimes.  They can be a useful item in the garden to provide a different element and even announce a separate area.


Bamboo
Bamboo

Water In The Garden

Water is an important element but while we both want a pond for wildlife it can be a real danger for someone who is sight impaired.

 So our solution is to have elements near the pond that will alert him to the water such as a physical barrier of a fence around the pond, a windchime near it and for added safety we will add a grid over the pond in case he does walk onto it.

We may have a small running water feature pump, not so much so that it disturbs wildlife but enough for it to be heard.

We will change the ground near the pond to something very different so if there is grass mainly near the pond we will put slabs down. 

Bird Bath

We will also continue to have a bird bath. Even if he eventually cannot see the birds very well, he can hear them having a bath as they splash around. We love our garden birds so we intend to have maybe three bird baths in different areas.

 

So with a little thought and discussion and some plant knowledge it is I believe very possible to make a beautiful sensory garden with Touch, Sound and Scent for a person with sight loss and being an interesting garden for everyone. 

See Part Two in a few weeks, which will cover Sight, Taste and Safety. 


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Essential Wildlife Gardening Gifts


Diary Of A Wild Country Garden





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Review This Reviews is Dedicated to the Memory of Our Beloved Friend and Fellow Contributor

Susan DeppnerSusan Deppner

We may be apart, but
You Are Not Forgotten





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