Lin/Linda: Freedom Friday was the second day of a trial run in the Facebook group of topic-of-the-day discussions to encourage members to participate.
Excerpts from the article How to Make Life Easier and Safer for Seniors with Low Vision.
The article ends with this but I think it’s worth reading it first:
“Seniors and others with low vision often worry that sight impairments will affect their ability to live independently. Put your loved one at ease by suggesting resources that will allow them to remain independent, and help them implement the tips above to improve their ability to complete day-to-day tasks on their own.”
Keeping an Eye on Visual Health
Caregivers can help keep tabs on a loved one’s vision by looking for an increase in:
- Squinting or tilting their head when trying to focus.
- Bumping into things or knocking objects over.
- Discontinuing everyday vision-based activities like reading or writing.
- Missing objects when reaching for them.
- Falling or walking hesitantly.
If a loved one is still driving, an increase in accidents and risky maneuvers may also indicate visual changes. It is important to discuss these noticeable changes with your loved one and make an eye appointment to ensure early detection and treatment of any eye diseases and prevent lasting damage.
Helping a Loved One Accept Visual Changes
“Many older adults believe that there is no way they can cope with this loss since it affects almost all aspects of daily life,” Rogers explains. “But, caregivers and persons with visual impairment need to know that there is hope, and life, after vision loss.”
Tips and Products for Helping a Senior with Low Vision
Good Lighting is Key
- Keep surroundings well-lit but be mindful of glare.
- Use specialized lamps/bulbs to increase contrast and reduce glare and cover reflective surfaces when possible.
- Ensure that appropriate lighting is provided for all activities your loved one engages in. For example, direct task lighting is best for things like reading, playing cards or crafting.
- Consider a small gooseneck or clip-on lamp for these tasks.
- Under-counter lighting is another type that works well for illuminating the kitchen and other larger work areas.
- Avoid large discrepancies in lighting, such as a bright lamp shining into a dark room.
- As task lighting is increased, the surrounding room lighting should also be increased.
- Keeping lights on during daytime hours helps to equalize lighting from both indoor and outdoor sources.
Take Steps to Minimize Fall Risks
- Use nightlights in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms to reduce the risk of tripping and falling at night.
- Eliminate clutter and remove hazards such as throw rugs and electrical cords.
- Consider replacing or relocating short or difficult to see furniture, such as a glass coffee or side table.
- Create wide, clear and level walking paths that lead to all areas of the home for easy and safe navigation.
- You may have to reposition some furnishings to make the home easier to navigate. This can be disorienting initially, so make sure to provide your loved one with extra assistance getting around until they have memorized the new layout.
- Larger-scale rearrangements may be inadvisable for some seniors, especially those with memory issues.
