These warning signs may indicate senior vision impairment or vision loss.
When taking care of elderly parents, understand that discussing health issues is hard for many older individuals. They might believe their health issues are their business and no one else’s, or they might possibly be fearful that if they admit to experiencing problems, they could compromise their ability to remain independent. This is oftentimes the situation regarding vision loss.
An older person who is having problems seeing may do his or her best to conceal the issue from friends and family. Consequently, when taking care of elderly parents, it’s helpful to know how to recognize variations in behavior and appearance that might signify a senior ought to make an appointment with his or her doctor or eye care professional. Watch for these warning flags that could signify senior vision loss:
- Bumping into items, stumbling, moving very carefully or placing a hand on the wall while walking
- Seeming to be visually disoriented in a familiar location
- Under-reaching or over-reaching for items
- Discontinuing particular enjoyable activities such as reading, watching TV, driving, walking, or engaging in hobbies
- Tilting the head or squinting to see, or positioning reading material near to the face
- Struggling to identify other people’s faces, objects or colors
- Stained clothing or clothing color combinations that don’t match
- Seeking out more or different types of lighting for reading or other activities
- Having problems with cutting or serving food, or knocking over glasses
In addition, if the older person complains about the following, it could be indicative of losing vision:
- Pointing out halos or rings around lights, or observing spots in front of his or her eyes
- Expressing eye pain
- Being afflicted by diminished night vision, double or distorted vision
Losing vision doesn’t have to mean losing self-reliance. With a little assistance from Advanced Home Health Care, older adults with vision problems can continue to safely enjoy all that life has to offer. We provide transportation services, meal preparation, housekeeping, errand-running, and much more, allowing older adults to age at home where they are most comfortable, to keep the routines to which they’re accustomed, and to experience enhanced socialization. Contact us any time at 800.791.7785 to learn more about our compassionate care team and our top-rated home care throughout Des Moines County!
