Caring for a senior family member with low vision? Well, there are some basic things you need to know. To start with, learn as much as possible about the problems associated with the specific eye disease that caused the loss of sight. This will help you to take better care of your aged parents with impaired vision.
Low vision can seriously affect the overall well-being of the elderly. They will have difficulty moving around the house. This increases their risk of falls. Falls are one of the most common causes of death among people aged 65 or above. Since low vision increases a person’s risk of falling, it needs to be taken care of.
Your parent may find it difficult to come to terms with the fact that they will no longer be able to see properly. Since losing one’s eyesight is quite an unpleasant experience, the senior may experience psychological problems too.
Poor eyesight and its effect on the elderly
Impaired vision has a significant effect on the elderly. Apart from making the movement around the house more difficult, poor eyesight may also affect a person’s ability to bathe, eat, dress, and groom properly. This might reduce their self-esteem, confidence, and sense of well-being.
Vision problems affect a person’s ability to drive. Low vision may also affect a person’s social life. It makes it difficult for them to perform certain tasks. Moving around unfamiliar spaces may be even more difficult. As a result, the senior person may become afraid to leave the house.
How In-Home Senior Care Helps
A good home senior care package will significantly reduce vision-related falls. This is highly beneficial for people with poor eyesight since senior care workers will give them any assistance that they might need with their everyday tasks. Senior care professionals can even help boost your parents’ confidence. If they need an appointment with their optician, home care workers will be able to arrange it. If mobility is a problem, they will get an optician to visit at home.
In-home senior care workers are trained people who can help the elderly accept their loss of sight and boost their self confidence through innovative methods. Of course loss of sight can have a negative impact on your parent’s life; however, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will no longer be able to enjoy their relationships, activities, or hobbies.
Coping with poor vision is an important part of treatment. And with some help from senior care specialists, home care workers will teach your parents to perform their daily activities with the help of other senses. This may involve implementing different technological devices that give audio signals. For example, audio books, telephones with raised keys, and talking thermometers make life easier for people with low vision.