When caring for someone with sensory problems it is important to understand that they may no longer be as able as they once were, and as such, they will be learning how to adapt to their new needs. Issues such as hearing loss, low vision, taste and smell decline, and touch and balance issues can significantly affect a person’s day-to-day life and safety.
Here at Premier Community, we value Service Users’ overall well-being as one of our top priorities, so below is a variety of things to consider when caring for someone with a vision impairment.
Reducing Hazards:
When caring for an older adult with vision impairment there are a few things to consider, and signs and symptoms to look out for. It may be necessary to adapt their living space so they can remain independent even when a carer isn’t present.
Make changes to reduce hazards, such as removing loose rugs and mats to prevent trip hazards. Also keep areas such as hallways and walkways clear of objects and clutter that are easily avoided trip hazards. Making these simple adaptations are just quick ways to eliminate hazards.
Communicating effectively:
It is important to communicate effectively when engaging with an older adult that has visual impairment issues as things that would once appear clearly to them, now possibly go past unnoticed.
One way of doing this is to announce when you are about to enter a room they are in so they have some pre-warning.
Also, taking the time to describe what you’re doing and their surroundings clearly and calmly will still make them feel involved and aware of what’s happening around them.
As you can imagine, slowly losing an ability that once made you independent can be frustrating for the person. Therefore, it is crucial to remain patient with the older person and understand that having to adapt to a change in lifestyle, such as vision impairment, can take a drastic toll on the person’s emotional and mental well-being.
If the person you are caring for is a loved one who was once able and capable of doing tasks without assistance, we appreciate it can be difficult to adapt to their new needs and assist in daily tasks that were once done with ease. However, remaining calm and empathetic will help them feel more at ease and comfortable with their situation, and will show them that they are supported and cared for.
Mobility training & Independence:
For those moments in the day where a carer or relative isn’t present, it’s worth spending some time to talk them through ways of how to navigate their living area safely. Familiarise them with places they go often as well as rooms in their house. Memorising layouts of different rooms will help people with low vision remain confident within themselves in rooms they know.
Technology assisting adults with low vision:
Another way of assisting an older person with low vision is by introducing them to technology that will benefit their day-to-day lives. Voice-activated assistants such as Alexa, Apple Home or Google Home are equipped with accessibility features tailored for people with vision impairment issues, offering more independence and a sense of empowerment.
Talking alarm clocks and watches, such as those listed here on our Visual, Sensory and Hearing aids page, are also ideal for this situation, as they can help your loved one keep to their daily routines.
Similarly, many phones and tablets have accessibility options built-in, with tools such as screen readers and magnifiers to enlarge font size on your device, making it much clearer to read.
Another advantage of utilising technology is that it can convert text-to-speech, meaning it can set reminders, timers and send texts via voice, enabling an individual to continue to do tasks that would typically require you to be able to see.
If you care for someone living with other sensory issues and have questions, you might find some guidance and help from our other blogs that focus on specific issues you might also be facing. Our aim is to provide tips, advice and comfort through our blogs and try to write something for everyone.
We acknowledge that care is a broad umbrella and there isn’t one type of care for everyone that requires it, but if you are caring for a loved one and are looking for someone to offer additional support, head over to our home care section to read more about our care packages and see which one might suit you and your loved ones’ needs.
