As the average person grows older, changes to their vision are natural. According to a activities of daily living (ADLs) and place their independence at risk. As an informal caregiver, it’s important to learn all you can about senior eye health so that your loved one will enjoy a higher quality of life.
Common Vision Problems in the Elderly
The National Eye Institute has identified these common age-related vision problems in the elderly:
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma describes several different conditions, all of which can damage the optic nerve, resulting in impaired vision and even blindness.
- Macular degeneration: This age-related condition causes part of the retina to lose function, which affects a senior’s ability to maintain sharp, central vision.
- Cataracts: A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens, which makes objects look blurry. Cataracts can also exacerbate glare and diminish one’s ability to perceive colors.
- Diabetic retinopathy: As one of the complications from diabetes, retinopathy is caused by damaged blood vessels in the retina.
- Low vision: Low vision describes a reduction in eye function that may make reading, watching TV, and performing other routine activities more challenging.
Signs of Age-Related Vision Changes
If you think that your senior loved one’s eye health is degrading, look for these warning signs:
- Frequently bumping into objects or knocking them over
- Squinting or tilting their head to focus
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents
- Unexplained dents and scratches on their car
- Missing or spilling items when reaching for them
- Hesitant to walk or move
- Avoiding everyday tasks like reading the mail, cooking, or driving
- Mixing up household items, foodstuffs, or boxes
Eye Health Tips for Senior Adults
Left unaddressed, progressive vision loss could place your senior’s health and wellbeing at risk. As a concerned party here are five vision health tips you can use to keep your parent safe and comfortable:
Share your concerns
Based on what you’ve observed sit down and respectfully share your concerns with your loved one. If they deny any problems at first be patient-yet-persistent. Once they admit that they have vision issues offer to help. The worst thing you can do is ignore the problem.
Book them an eye exam
To proactively prevent eye disease the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all seniors get a complete eye exam every year. Schedule an eye appointment for your senior and join them to learn about the doctor’s view. Sometimes an updated eyeglass prescription and a new set of lenses are all it takes!
Ensure a safer home environment
Seniors with vision problems may be more prone to accidents around the home. One way to help is by updating their residence to accommodate vision changes. Home modifications to consider include adding more lighting, removing trip-and-fall hazards, and making sure that the home has clear, accessible routes throughout.
Serve them eye-healthy foods
For older adults, diet can be a major factor for maintaining and even strengthening their vision. Encourage your senior to eat nutrient-rich foods as part of a well-balanced diet, including those that specifically benefit vision. Leafy greens, fish, omega-3 eggs, nuts, citrus fruits, and carotenoid-rich vegetables are all “eye-healthy” choices for seniors and their caregivers.
Stress medication compliance
Medications for glaucoma, diabetes, and other eye-related health conditions need to be taken as prescribed. Help your loved one develop a medication management system that ensures total compliance. If picking up their drugs or remembering their refills are problematic, set them up with an online pharmacy like PillPack that offers to-the-door deliveries.
An Extended Family in Your Loved One’s Home
Looking after an aging loved one with vision problems isn’t easy when you can’t always be there. Assisting Hands Home Care Services is available in communities Northwest of Boston, MA– from a few hours a day or around the clock and we customize our care to meet your schedule. Our highly trained team of professional caregivers knows how to help independent seniors live with vision changes by offering them encouragement and hands-on support.
In addition to helping your loved one manage any eye conditions, we might have our compassionate caregivers who can also provide dignified in-home personal care services ranging from companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation for shopping, appointments, and errands, light housekeeping, and laundry, to personal care and help with bathing and dressing. To learn more about Assisting Hands Home Care Services now, or to schedule a FREE assessment for a senior in Northwest of Boston, MA today, please visit us at www.assistinghands.com.
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