| What Is Low Vision? | | | | needed to drive a vehicle, we can understand |
| We know that as we age, things don't always | | | | how impaired vision can cause many complications. |
| work the way that they used to. But as | | | | If adequate lighting is not available, this can put |
| caregivers for elderly parents and aging loved | | | | your elderly loved one as well as other drivers in |
| ones, it is very important to stay aware of any | | | | danger, especially at night. |
| changes we see happening in the lives of those | | | | Impact on Social Life: |
| under our care. | | | | Low vision affects the social activities of elderly |
| One of the changes that may have a very | | | | persons in a number of ways. Psychologically, low |
| profound impact in the daily life of your elderly | | | | vision limits senior citizens because they are often |
| loved on is Age Related Macular Degeneration | | | | afraid to leave their homes. Studies have shown |
| (AMD). According to the Macular Degeneration | | | | that low vision adults have a much harder time |
| Partnership, AMD can be described as: | | | | moving about in unfamiliar places than in their |
| "A progressive eye condition that affects as | | | | more familiar homes. |
| many as 15 million Americans and millions more | | | | How Can Low Vision Be Treated? |
| around the world. The disease attacks the macula | | | | AMD is a bilateral impairment to vision that |
| of the eye, where our sharpest central vision | | | | significantly impairs the functioning of the patient |
| occurs. Although it rarely results in complete | | | | and cannot be adequately corrected with medical, |
| blindness, it robs the individual of all but the | | | | surgical, therapy, conventional eye-wear or |
| outermost, peripheral vision, leaving only dim | | | | contact lenses. It is often a loss of sharpness or |
| images or black holes at the center of vision." | | | | acuity but may present as a loss of field of vision, |
| Some of the causes of AMD are: | | | | light sensitivity, distorted vision or loss of contrast. |
| Macular degeneration | | | | Low Vision Rehabilitation Services do not cure the |
| Diabetes | | | | cause of the vision problem but rather utilize the |
| Glaucoma | | | | remaining vision to its fullest potential. Low Vision |
| Retinitis pigmentosa and congenital | | | | rehabilitation programs offer a wide range of |
| Neurologic | | | | services, such as low vision evaluations and special |
| AMD can affect senior members of the family in | | | | training to use visual and adaptive devices. They |
| a variety of ways, turning the most basic tasks | | | | also offer guidance for making changes in your |
| of daily living into an exercise. Some of the ways | | | | home as well as group support from others with |
| low vision may affect your elderly loved ones | | | | low vision. |
| include (but are not limited to) the following: | | | | If your elderly loved one is experiencing vision loss |
| Impact on Daily Living Activities: | | | | that may be due to Age Related Macular |
| These daily tasks include activities like bathing, | | | | Degeneration contact a Vision Rehabilitation |
| moving about within the home, eating, dressing, | | | | Program to find out how they can help your |
| grooming, etc. The attempt to fulfill these daily | | | | senior family member utilize their remaining vision |
| activities can put your senior family member in | | | | in the most optimal way possible. It's also good to |
| precarious situations that may not have been | | | | keep in mind that depending on your elder's |
| considered risky prior to the loss of vision. | | | | situation, Low Vision Therapy may be included in |
| Impact on Driving: | | | | their Medicare Home Health Benefit. |
| Understanding the combination of skills that are | | | | |