Low Vision Awareness Month: Helping a Visually Impaired Loved One
This February is Low Vision Awareness Month and a chance to raise awareness about vision loss in seniors. By 2030, it’s estimated that there will be over 5 million seniors with low vision. This issue affects millions of Americans each year and can cause decreased quality of life and independence.
Let’s go over why Low Vision Awareness Month matters and how you can help your visually impaired loved ones.
Why Low Vision Awareness Month Matters
Low Vision Awareness Month is important because it helps bring attention to the issue of vision loss in seniors. Unfortunately, many seniors are unaware they’re losing their eyesight. Furthermore, seniors often don’t realize that options are available to help improve their vision. Raising awareness about this issue can help seniors access the care they need before their condition progresses too far.
Low Vision Awareness Month also raises awareness for early detection of age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, two leading causes of blindness in seniors. These diseases can cause severe vision loss if left untreated, so seniors need regular eye exams to stay aware of any changes or symptoms indicating a problem with their eyesight.
Signs Your Senior Loved One is Experiencing Vision Loss
If you’re concerned that your senior loved one may be experiencing vision loss, there are some signs you can look out for.
These may include:
- Difficulty seeing at night or in dimly lit areas
- Blurred vision
- Trouble recognizing faces
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Difficulty reading or watching TV
- Problems judging distances or with depth perception
Additionally, certain health conditions like diabetes and hypertension can increase the risk of vision loss, so if your loved one has any of these conditions, be especially vigilant about their eye health.
Supporting Visually Impaired Seniors
Family members and caretakers need to be aware of low vision issues facing seniors so they can offer support. Many resources are available for those with low vision, such as magnifiers, specialized glasses, lighted magnifiers, audiobooks, large print books, audio aids, computer software programs, and more. Helping seniors access these resources and tools can help them maintain their independence.
You can also support them by taking them to yearly eye exams and helping them adjust to the changes in their vision. Seniors with low vision may not understand the changes they are experiencing, so explain them and help them adjust.
In addition, family members should be aware of the emotional toll vision loss can take on seniors. Many seniors may feel isolated and lonely due to their vision loss, so providing emotional support and companionship can help them cope.
Conclusion
Low Vision Awareness Month is an important event that raises awareness about age-related eye disease and other conditions that can impact a senior’s ability to see clearly. If you suspect you or someone you love may have low vision due to age-related eye disease or another condition, talk to their ophthalmologist about ways to manage the symptoms safely and effectively.
At Tradition Home Care, our caregivers offer home care services to help seniors with vision loss maintain their safety and independence. Get in touch online today or call 718-298-3133 to learn more about how we can support your loved one during this difficult time.
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