A common effect of ageing is vision deterioration and loss. This might be due to poor health, vulnerability to certain eye diseases, or simply a natural result of many years of use. No matter what causes the change in eyesight, it can be really difficult for older adults to adjust to.
Vision loss can contribute to mobility issues, an increased fall risk and a higher number of hospital admissions. To avoid eyesight troubles reducing quality of life and putting your loved one at risk of injury, it’s imperative that they receive the correct care.
Today, we’ll explore how ageing affects eyesight, what this means for independence and home living, and the best care options.
How Ageing Affects the Eyes
Each year in our lives impacts our eyes. It’s reported that over 30 million people in the UK alone are affected by a condition called presbyopia, which translates to ‘old eye’ in Greek. This is when our eyes gradually lose their ability as we get older, making everyday tasks difficult without glasses.
Other ways age can contribute to worsening eyesight include:
- Age-related cataracts: Cataracts aren’t always age-related, but older adults might develop cloudy patches over the lens of their eyes. Cataracts are very common in people over 75 and usually require surgery to fix.
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that impact the optic nerve. It’s most common in those over the age of 80, but younger adults can experience it too.
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50. It results in blurred eyesight and further complications due to deterioration of the macula.Â
- Family history: If older generations in the family have a history of wearing glasses and certain eyesight issues, your risk of developing them is slightly higher.
Is There a Cure for Age-Related Vision Loss?
The good news is that many causes of vision loss can be treated in a timely manner. For example, AMD can be treated with eye injections and light therapy. Cataracts can often be removed through lens replacement surgery.
However, other conditions, like glaucoma and presbyopia, can’t be cured, and any resulting vision loss isn’t restorable. It can be difficult for older adults to accept that their vision is deteriorating, especially when they are advised to make lifestyle changes to avoid it getting worse.
Care Options for Vision Loss
Realising they’re losing their vision can be difficult for loved ones, so knowing their options can help you offer support and assist them with moving forward.
Vision loss care comes in many different forms, including:
Low-Vision Clinics
As soon as your loved one starts experiencing changes in eyesight, they should ask for a referral to a low-vision clinic. Here, they’ll learn more about what’s happening with their eyes and possible options for treatment. They’ll also be offered specialist support on how to deal with the emotions that come with vision changes, such as grief, anger and anxiety.
Clinics can connect your loved one with specialist charities, which offer dedicated emotional and practical support to people living with vision loss. Some also offer support to family members and loved ones who may be struggling with their increased care responsibilities.
Support From Family and Friends
Family support is incredibly important for older adults experiencing vision changes. You can offer support with mobility, household tasks and companionship. The familiarity of support from loved ones is often soothing and preferred by many, but it’s not always the most viable option. Family members often have other responsibilities, keeping them from offering as much assistance as needed.
Live-In Care
Live-in care supports quality of life and fosters independence by assisting with daily activities that are becoming increasingly difficult. Live-in care offers one-on-one support throughout the day, meaning your loved one is never rushed and always treated with dignity and respect. Their carer can monitor symptoms and make small adjustments to their home and daily routine to boost independence.
Visiting Care
Changes in vision don’t always require full-time support, with visiting care being sufficient for routine assistance with specific tasks. For example, if your loved one’s vision impairment has made it difficult for them to use the stairs safely, a carer can visit each morning to help them get ready for the day and walk downstairs. Another visit can be made in the evening to help them back upstairs to their bedroom.
Specialist Residential Homes
Many residential homes are staffed with professional carers who have plenty of experience aiding those with sight loss. These assisted living facilities are often set up to accommodate vision changes, ensuring safety and comfort throughout your loved one’s time living there. They may feel initial feelings of stress and agitation from moving to a new home, especially if they’re experiencing advanced sensory loss.
How to Make Your Loved One’s Home Safer For Low Vision
Many people who experience vision loss can remain in the comfort of their own homes, especially when assistive aids and beneficial changes are made. To make your loved one’s home as safe as possible, here are a few changes to consider:
- Prioritise natural light: Natural light enhances vision, contrast and colour differentiation, so keep curtains and blinds open for as long as possible and use natural light bulbs.
- Fix trip hazards: Walk around your loved one’s home and look for curling rugs, loose carpet, clutter and low furniture that could become a trip hazard.
- Install handrails and grab bars: Using railings in rooms where accidents are more likely, such as the bathroom and hallways, can keep loved ones safe and independent.
- Use contrasting colours: Redecorate rooms with contrasting colours to make it easier for them to find things. For example, dark furniture against white coloured walls and flooring makes it easier for them to spot hazards and walk around safely.
- Invest in talking aids: Modern technology means there are plenty of talking aids to help your loved one live well at home. Doorbells with intercom systems, talking scales and screen readers are just a few examples that make living with vision loss much easier.Â
- Reorganise rooms: Place frequently used items, such as bowls, cups, books and chargers, at the front of cupboards so your loved one can easily reach them without searching dark spaces.
- Place non-slip mats: Not only do non-slip mats keep everyone safe in bathrooms, but they are also often textured so your loved one can feel how close they are to the bath or shower and prevent a fall.
- Useful safety aids: Big button phones, voice-activated personal assistants and personal alarms can all be used to keep your loved one safe should they need emergency assistance while living alone.
Care After Cataract Surgery
Cataracts are very common in older people, but the good news is that surgery to replace the eye lens is often offered. This type of surgery usually takes between two and six weeks to recover from, and healthcare professionals often recommend round-the-clock support.
A short-term postoperative carer can help assist your loved one at home, providing support with:
- Preventing them from getting their eye area wet while washing
- Offering reassurance and emotional support as they work through their recovery
- Shouldering the burden of strenuous activities, such as shopping and cooking
- Assisting them with mobility around the house so they’re not confined to bed
How Trinity Homecare Can Help
At Trinity Homecare, we offer both live-in and visiting care services to those who need us. We firmly believe that older adults should be given the opportunity to remain living at home for as long as possible, even when poor vision starts to interfere with daily living tasks.
Our bespoke care that has been tailored to you provides:
- Assistance with bathing, showering, oral hygiene and dressing
- Help with cooking and shopping
- Transport for running errands and social outings
- Adjustments in daily routines to foster independence
- Companionship and emotional support
If your loved one is currently experiencing changes to their vision, our carers can help make healthy lifestyle changes to support positive eye health and hopefully slow down further deterioration.
Talk to Our Team Today
If your loved one requires home care, chat with one of our friendly care team today. We offer a free, no-obligation enquiry and assessment service and are happy to offer information and advice to help you find the perfect home care solution.
Call us on 020 4572 5583 in confidence for a free no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.
