August is National Eye Exam Month and a good time to talk about eye exams and vision. Your mom has Alzheimer’s, and it’s getting hard to communicate with her. She often forgets what she was saying or can’t find the right words. It’s creating communication difficulties with her, and it’s making her want to become more isolated.
When a parent is in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s, it gets harder to leave the house. Your mom doesn’t want to go outside. She hates leaving her house and fights you. It’s been a year since your mom’s last eye exam. Is it worth taking her for a new exam?
Ask Her Eye Doctor for Advice
Ask your mom’s eye doctor for advice. If her vision has been pretty stable, her optometrist may feel it’s better to avoid stressing her out more than necessary. If she needs glasses because she keeps losing them, her eye doctor may extend it without you having to come in. It’s up to the eye doctor.
What If You Have to Take Her?
What if your mom’s doctor feels it’s important that she go for an eye exam? To make the trip as easy as possible for both you and her, don’t tell her where you’re going. Instead, mention something she likes to do. Tell her you’re taking her for a drive in the mountains or driving to the zoo to look at the animals.
Alzheimer’s Care in Largo FLGet to the eye doctor, but park away from the entrance. Make up a reason you need her to get out and walk with you. It could be to go pick up drinks at a store. At that point, she’s already out of the car and you can walk her inside the office. Your mom may not be happy, but she’s at least in the office.
Some of the eye exam will be too difficult for her. Naming letters is often hard. But, they can do quick checks for diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration. This should be enough to get a renewed prescription for glasses. You might find your mom’s having a good day and can do all the tests. It’s hard to predict.
As your mom’s family caregiver, you’re probably feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself, too. Arrange time away as often as you need it. Don’t be ashamed to admit you can’t take care of your mom on your own.
Hire Alzheimer’s care aides to help with the harder caregiving tasks like bathing, toileting, and oral care. Your mom may be extremely combative, and you’re still her child. That makes it very hard for you to forget the mom who is slowly disappearing. Alzheimer’s care aides can handle the brunt of her care, leaving you the freedom to take care of your emotional, mental, and physical health.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Alzheimer’s Care in Largo, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
