Caring for Seniors with Vision loss or blindness

As we age, just as our physical strength decreases our eyes can also decline. Some of these changes are perfectly normal and don’t signify any sort of disease process. Others however such as cataracts, can be considered an age-related disease, they are extremely common among seniors and can be readily corrected with cataract surgery.

Conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy may cause partial blindness, legal blindness or even full blindness.

Some Seniors with vision problems experience depression, lose their confidence and have an increased risk of falls and hip fractures. People at the highest risk of vision loss are older people and those with diabetes as well as, those with a family history of vision problems.

Sometimes, because people think that changes in their vision are a natural part of ageing, visual problems go untreated. If you do notice any changes in your vision, it is important to get your eyes tested by an optometrist or ophthalmologist (a medical eye specialist). These services are free to Australian Medicare card holders.

What else can I do to help with my eye health?

There are many things you can do to help your eyes stay healthy including:

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

• Eating healthy food – a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables may reduce the risk of eye disease.

• Reducing the amount of glare and ultraviolet radiation to your eyes by wearing a broad-brimmed hat, sunglasses and keeping out of the sun during the middle of the day. Make sure that your sunglasses meet the Australian Standard.

• Wearing protective eye equipment, such as protective goggles, when undertaking do-it-yourself activities around the home and garden.

• Making sure you have good lighting and take regular breaks when working at a computer for long periods of time.

At Daughterly Care our aim is to support people with visual problems by recognising their individual concerns and tailoring a care plan to suit their daily living requirements. Some of the services we offer can include: respite care, personal care, shopping, light household duties and appointments.

Our Caregivers are given guidelines for working with vision impaired and blind clients and have the full support of our Nursing team:

• Introduce yourself and state your name when you arrive.

• Use a clear natural voice when speaking.

• Say what you’re doing before you do it, or if you’re moving about the room or leaving.

• Tell the client if there’s food in front of them including what it is and where it’s placed on the plate, perhaps using the idea of a clock face (for example, beans are at 12 o’clock).

• Warn the person of the temperature of food or drink when you’re giving it to them.

• Leave everything as you found it in their home. If something has to be moved, tell them where you have moved it to. This is vitally important.

• Be especially careful when the house is being cleaned. Vacuum cords, wet floors and a mop and bucket are all potential hazards.

• Shut doors completely or leave them fully open. A half-open door is a hazard.

• Let the client take your arm and walk slowly, and make sure you remove or describe any obstacles in their way when guiding them around.

Please contact our friendly office staff if you need any further information or need to make an inquiry about our services.