Vision Impairment in Seniors and How In-Home Care Can Help

Edmonton Senior Health  |  November 13, 2023

What Every Senior Needs to Know About In-Home Care and Vision Impairment

Vision Impairment in Seniors, or vision loss, is a major contributor to adult loss of independence and can be devastating to older persons. Luckily, there are options for seniors with this disability, through in-home care and other medical services.

November is #NationalHomecareAndHospiceMonth and ##DiabeticEyeDiseaseMonth and this blog is filled with information for In Home Care and Vision Impairment and how Comfort Keepers Edmonton can help!

Vision Loss of Seniors

Aging adults who suffer from vision loss might also have problems with daily activities that many of us take for granted, such as reading, meal preparation, or even using the phone. Common behaviors can become difficult, or even impossible, and that’s frightening when you realize that the odds of vision loss increase as we age.

Still, this impairment isn’t a “normal” part of aging, and the negative effect on older men and women shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s a traumatic health problem for many.

We have enough research to know that older adults who lose vision suffer from challenges in their regular daily activities. For example, seniors may have to give up driving well before their friends will be considering it. They may struggle with errands or shopping for themselves, managing finances, and doing housework.

Sadly, people with impaired vision are likely to go outdoors less and take fewer walks, and because of this, they are more likely to fall and break a hip when they do.

Seniors with Impaired Vision and Chronic Conditions

Inactivity is known to lead to chronic illness. Unfortunately, seniors with impaired vision tend to acquire more chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, in addition to their vision challenges.

This is considered most likely from poor diet, and because low-vision seniors aren’t as active as others with normal eyesight. These limitations and correlating chronic disease tend to manifest greater levels of depression and anxiety than in other seniors.

Next, a visually-impaired senior gets into a vicious cycle, where depression worsens their physical state, and their worsening state increases their depression. This spirals down to isolation because they refuse to participate in the social activities that were once enjoyed.

High levels of depression and anxiety may end up limiting seniors from their everyday activities, even more than the visual problems they have!

There’s good news… Professional therapies have been created to help visually impaired seniors. Doctors can prescribe rehab to teach coping skills for better managing vision loss. This way, seniors can remain active with their families and communities.

When a low-vision adult accepts assistance from family, friends, and supportive caregivers, with meal preparation and transportation to appointments or social events, their isolation becomes a lesser problem, and a sense of normalcy resumes in their daily lives.

Comfort Keepers® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® are trained caregivers who help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality: empathy. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Home Care Edmonton

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. Read more about the program HERE.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible. Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services, clearly demonstrating Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton.

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