How to Care for an Older Adult With a Vision Impairment
Home Care in Millstone NJ
Older adults with vision loss may have several mixed emotions, such as depressed, anxious, angry, and sad. After all, the eyesight they used to rely on has now been diminished. Elders with vision impairment are forced to learn new ways to do everyday tasks, but often find it difficult to complete. A home care provider may be needed to help your loved one with these, tasks, but there are also some ways you can help make life easier for them.
- Consider rehabilitation services. These services will help elders with vision loss learn how to adapt to new environments, as well as learning new techniques to doing familiar tasks. You can find the information for vision rehabilitation services by contacting a local or state agency that serves the blind and visually impaired.
- Offer support. During this transition in your loved one’s life, they are going to need a strong support system for their emotional and physical needs. Let the elder know about any rehabilitation services you find, offering to drive him. But do not push him to use the services, let him decide for himself. You can also go with him to any training seminars on how to accomplish everyday tasks in order to better familiarize yourself with the senior’s new way of life.
- Make adaptions at the home. To make your loved one’s home safer, rearrange the furniture to make it easier for her to move about. Also, improve the lighting in each room and use contrasting colors throughout the home to make it easier to see. For example, if the walls are painted a dark color, use light colored furniture for more visibility.
- Involve the rest of the family. During this difficult time for the elder, he is going to need family around him more than ever. Get everyone together to provide encouragement for your elderly loved one while they learn new ways to accomplish everyday tasks. As much as family members may want to do things for him, encourage him use the new techniques he has learned to do things for himself.
- Urge him to get regular eye examinations. Older adults are susceptible to developing a number of vision diseases, including glaucoma and cataracts. If caught too late, the elder could lose their vision completely without being able to recover any of it through treatment. Annual eye examinations will give your loved one a better chance of detecting an eye disease early enough to get the necessary treatment and possibly be able to regain their vision.
Vision impairments can be a struggle for anyone to go through, but with these tips and the support of other family members, this change to their life can be much easier.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring home care in Millstone, NJ or the surrounding areas, please call Independence Home Care today at 609-208-1111 for more information.
Source:
http://www.afb.org/info/friends-and-family/help-for-an-older-relative/23