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Failing eyesight and microwave ovens

(14 Posts)
Stansgran Wed 26-Feb-25 14:06:41

DH has macular degeneration and I want him to keep going to do normal things as long as possible. The microwave we have is really only used for reheating soups, making porridge , Welsh rarebit, steaming veg and cooking rice. But we do eat a lot of veg and I would like him to be able To do this. The RNIB did have a microwave which talked I think but it’s out of stock. Can any one recommend anything ?

Elowen33 Wed 26-Feb-25 14:24:38

If you google smart microwave you will see a selection of voice controlled microwaves, some that are used with Alexa some that work without.

Stansgran Wed 26-Feb-25 16:21:25

I had no idea .thank you very much

Charleygirl5 Wed 26-Feb-25 17:23:17

I also have AMD, and the last microwave I have is well set out, so I have learned start, stop, etc., about five commands in total.

Once he uses it frequently, he will soon learn where the controls are. I do not believe in spending money unnecessarily.

Ditto with my air fryer, I bought one with very simple controls.

M0nica Wed 26-Feb-25 17:58:41

No eye problems, but i do find the black on black design aesthetic difficult. Trying to work out which little black dot is the indicator to be turned to the black on black minute marks, so I have gone round them with white tippex. A little dot on the indicator mark and all the minute markers.

Reubenblue Wed 26-Feb-25 18:57:33

I too have macular degeneration and find the stick on rubber dots, from RNIB very useful to mark often used buttons. I have the talking weighing scales, they are excellent. The other useful thing I find is the magnifier on my iPhone to hold up to hard to see dials or price tags etc.

Charleygirl5 Wed 26-Feb-25 20:28:32

I bought the red stickers from Amazon. One is on my charger because I was forever putting the flex in my charger the wrong way around.

I also have placed one on the odd socket because a white socket and then a white plug is frequently too much for me, especially if it is not at waist height.

Stansgran Wed 26-Feb-25 20:37:15

Very helpful thank you all

Gin Wed 26-Feb-25 23:06:47

I have a very cheap microwave with manual dials that gives a loudish ticking noise for each minute you set it for.. I have wet AMD and cannot read digital displays.

Margiknot Thu 27-Feb-25 15:10:27

My father ( who lost half his sight due to a stroke) found the stick on raised rubbery dots helpful- he marked up plugs on devices so that he could tell by feel ( one dot or two) what he was switching on -the toaster or the kettle. He similarly marked up the one minute button on the ( basic) microwave.

Tish Fri 28-Feb-25 13:22:18

My mum was registered blind and we bought a combi-oven made by Panasonic, the buttons were different shapes and arranged in groups according to function and mum quickly learned the different groups, not sure its still available from Panasonic but John Lewis stock similar. Not as cheap as a microwave but very versatile.

cc Fri 28-Feb-25 18:38:29

Our microwave, like many others, has a button which gives you 30 seconds of power so you simply count how many times you press for a given time. I think we had one in the past which gave one minute per push, but 30 seconds seems more useful.

Thisismyname1953 Sun 02-Mar-25 08:59:13

My uncle contacted a local blind association. A lovely lady came out to see him and brought small gadgets to help him . One was a small stick to put in his cup when making tea and when the the pouring water reached the level in his cup a bell would ring .
She also brought small stick on very bright dots which she stuck on his cooker , microwave etc to point out his usual settings . Worked fine and very cheap x

ElaineI Sun 02-Mar-25 16:07:59

My Mum used the stick up rubbery dots too after we had stuck them on. They worked well.