One of the most common physical problems that seniors find themselves facing as they age is vision loss. There are many factors that can increase the risk of someone losing their vision to an eye condition like macular degeneration or cataracts, and age is one of the biggest risk factors. Vision loss can be scary for seniors, and it presents a unique set of challenges to those who’ve lost their vision as well as their caregivers.
The good news is that senior care services can help ease this burden for you and your loved one. From providing personal care and housekeeping services to companionship, care workers from qualified home care programs can help your loved one live their life to the fullest, even with vision loss.
Co
mmon Eye Conditions
There are a number of eye conditions that cause vision loss that are common in seniors. These conditions include macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. If your loved one has one of these conditions, senior care services may be able to help you to take better care of them while giving you peace of mind.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of vision loss, and it affects about 2.5 million Canadians. Macular degeneration can be difficult to predict since many people who develop macular degeneration as they age had perfectly normal vision for most of their lives. While it doesn’t cause complete blindness, macular degeneration does lead to decreased and blurred vision.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that cause vision loss due to the optic nerve being damaged. Like macular degeneration, glaucoma can be difficult to detect, as the early stages are often asymptomatic. The two main kinds of glaucoma are open-angle (which develops slowly over time) and angle-closure glaucoma (which develops quickly over a very short period of time.)
Cataracts
Cataracts are caused by proteins in your eyes deteriorating. One of the leading risk factors for cataracts is increased age since these proteins naturally degrade with time. Cataracts can cause impairment ranging from hazy vision to complete blindness.
Benefits of Senior Care Services
If your loved one is struggling with vision loss, senior care services can help them. From allowing your loved one to be taken care of and maintaining their normal routine to keeping them occupied and giving them companionship, care workers through a home care program will ensure that all of your loved one’s needs are met.
Housekeeping, Personal Care, and Meal Prep
Many people underestimate how much they rely on their sight to do everyday tasks like chores, personal care, or cooking. So, when a senior loses their eyesight, they may feel frustrated that they are unable to do everything they used to. Whether you choose In Home CARE or Companion CARE, our care workers will ensure that your loved one is being taken care of and thriving despite their vision loss.
Companionship
One problem that many seniors face is loneliness. Especially if your loved one has vision loss and may not be able to participate in activities that they previously enjoyed, loneliness is something that can leave them feeling isolated or even depressed. Regular care through senior care services can aid in decreasing this loneliness by ensuring that your loved one has someone who visits them regularly.
Peace of Mind
Vision loss can be a frightening experience. Those who experience it find their world changing. They have to learn new ways to do things and may even grieve the loss of their old ways of life. For those who care for them, vision loss presents multiple challenges such as figuring out how to take care of their loved ones and what to do if they cannot always be there. Home care can provide peace of mind to everyone, as those with vision loss will know they are safe, and their loved ones can rest easy knowing that someone with expert knowledge will be there to help.
If someone you care for is experiencing vision loss, and you’re interested in learning more about how our In-Home CARE, Companion CARE, Live In CARE, or Veterans CARE programs can help them, contact us today. We offer a number of senior care services and are thrilled to take care of your loved one with the respect and dignity they deserve.
