During World Glaucoma Week, families in Canada should take the opportunity to think about the needs of aging loved ones who live with a condition that causes low vision. Here’s how in-home care from Senior Home Care by Angels helps seniors with low vision remain independent.
A recent study found that 23 per cent of Canadians who suffer from a condition called low vision are 65 years old or older. It is a condition that is one of the leading causes of disability in Canada, and the likelihood of having low vision increases with age. Unfortunately, low vision cannot be fixed. However, seniors can learn to adapt to low vision by modifying their home environment and receiving help from our senior care providers at Senior Home Care by Angels.
How Does Low Vision Impact Seniors?
As we age, we all experience changes in our eyesight. Most of the time, these changes can be corrected by glasses, medicine, or surgery, except when it comes to low vision. Low vision is a visual impairment that may restrict the ability of seniors to function on a day-to-day basis.
Symptoms of low vision include:
- Difficulty reading
- Blurred vision
- Night blindness
- Glare or haziness
- Trouble with sight while driving
- Difficulty recognizing faces
Low vision can be caused by a wide range of eye diseases and health problems, including:
- Cataracts
- Diabetes
- Macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
If you notice any changes in your senior loved one’s vision, make sure they are getting regular eye exams to check for the early signs of low vision.
Impact on Personal Life
Struggling with low vision can be embarrassing for some seniors and might cause them to withdraw from their personal and social lives because of it. According to research, seniors who struggle with vision impairments are more susceptible to isolation, depression, and loneliness. It is important for seniors to have a supportive network of family, friends, and professional senior care providers from Senior Home Care by Angels to help them compensate for their impairment and to provide emotional support.
Senior Care Options for Loved Ones with Low Vision
Seniors with low vision need to change their environment to adapt to the changes in their eyesight, preferably with the help of a family member or a professional senior care provider. Low vision can be a safety risk, and it is important to take steps to minimize this danger.
At Senior Home Care by Angels, our senior care providers can help install and supervise the recommendations below:
In a brighter home, furniture and objects stand out more. Motion-activated lights can be a lifesaving investment for many seniors with low vision.
Seniors with low vision cannot safely operate a vehicle, so it is important for seniors to have a driver when they need to leave the home. If a family member or friend cannot serve as a driver, Senior Home Care by Angels can arrange reliable transportation.
Text and numbers used in daily life can often be made larger. Make sure your senior loved one has access to large-print books and increase the font size on phones and computers. You can also install clocks, remotes, and telephones with larger, easier-to-read numbers. Your loved one may also want to use magnifying aids.
- Use high-contrast markers to safeguard against accidents
Dangerous falls can be prevented by outlining the edges of stairs and other fall-hazards with high-contrast tape. Light switches and outlets can be switched out for ones with higher-contrast colors.
- Implement voice recognition technology
Cell phones, computers, and TVs can all be used with voice recognition technology. They can also assist people with vision impairments by reading text out loud and recognizing voice commands.
Low vision is a constant struggle and it can be isolating, inconvenient, and even dangerous. However, seniors with low vision should not have to go through it alone. With in-home care from Senior Home Care by Angels, a professional caregiver can help your loved ones adapt their home environment to include reading aids, high-contrast devices, and other technologies that can help them remain independent and live out their golden years at home. We can also assist with day-to-day tasks that have become more challenging due to low vision, like preparing meals, running errands, or doing light housekeeping.
Best of all, our senior care providers can support your loved one during the day, on weekends, overnight, and even provide 24-hour home care. We’ll be there for your loved one when they need us most.
To learn more about our services, contact your local Senior Home Care by Angels office today.