Your senses are the way that you connect and interact with the world around you. As you get older, however, the acuity of these senses is likely to decrease, meaning you are not going to be as able to use your senses as you were when you were younger. For your aging parent, this means that they are likely experiencing diminished function in their ability to see, hear, taste, smell, and possibly even the ability to detect sensations, such as cold or heat. Of these, one of the most common is decreased visual acuity, also known as low vision. Helping your senior loved one to protect their vision as they get older is an important part of guarding their functionality, independence, and quality of life throughout their later years.

Use these tips to help your aging parent protect their vision as they age in place:

Eat a healthy diet

As with many health complications and concerns, low vision can be helped with a healthy diet. What your loved one eats and drinks can make a tremendous impact on their health and how their body ages. Encouraging them to eat a diet rich in nutrients including vitamin C and E, zinc, lutein, and omega 3 fatty acids can guard their eyes and help to prevent issues such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Try integrating more leafy greens, eggs, beans, nuts, citrus, and oily-fish into their diet.

Stop smoking

Smoking is a habit that has no benefits and a huge array of possible consequences. One is the increased risk of low vision, cataracts, and macular degeneration. If your senior smokes, encourage them to quit so that their eyes can be healthier as they age.

Protect them from the sun

You know how important it is to protect your parent’s skin from the sun, but it is also important to guard their eyes. Encourage them to wear sunglasses throughout the year, not just during outdoor activities in the summertime. Make sure that their glasses are rated to block UVA and UVB rays and that they wrap around the sides of the eyes to prevent the rays from getting to the eyes from the sides of the glasses.

Starting senior care for your aging loved one can be a fantastic way to help your aging parent maintain a good quality of life as they age in place and cope with low vision. Even if they are not dealing with particularly diminished vision or legal blindness, low vision can negatively influence their ability to manage their daily tasks on their own. Through the personalized approach to care, support, encouragement, and assistance of a senior home care services provider your aging parent can feel more confident pursuing a lifestyle that is safer, healthier, and more active than they may have without this assistance. Just as beneficial, this care can help your parent to experience greater independence rather than always having to rely on you to help them manage their errands, home tasks, or other activities. This boosts their mental and emotional health, supports better cognitive functioning, and can contribute to longevity.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home senior care in Dallas, TX, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands of Preston Hollow today at (214) 760-6944.