November is National Family Caregivers Month, and there are a variety of caregiver resources available through Caregiver Action Network. We’re highlighting caregiving tips for assisting loved ones with low vision or blindness.
Understanding Low Vision or Blindness
Low vision or blindness is a range of visual impairment that causes an individual to have difficulty seeing to perform everyday tasks, even with corrective glasses or contacts. Helping a loved one with vision loss means adapting environments and helping them maintain independence as much as possible.
Vision loss can change over time, so caregivers often need to continuously adjust and learn.
Adaptation and Skills Training
Finding resources and training to help loved ones with visual impairment can make an immense difference in their wellbeing and independence. Adaption and skills training for low vision focuses on teaching people with low vision to use remaining vision and adaptive tools to perform daily tasks.
This can include learning skills for personal and home tasks using adaptive strategies. Learning how to use adaptive technology like screen readers, large-print or text-to-speech software, and electronic magnifiers for reading and using computers is immensely helpful.
High-contrast labels make it easier to organize and identify items. Orientation & mobility training is key. This helps those with vision impairment learn to understand and interpret surroundings using all available senses. It also focuses on how to safely move around familiar and new indoor and outdoor environments. Mobility aids such as a white cane, guide dog, or GPS device can enable easier navigation.
A low vision exam and vision rehabilitation assessment will help determine your loved one’s specific needs and challenges. Ask about adaptation and skills resources and training to find out what supports are available.
Caregiving for a Loved One with Vision Impairment
The emotional and psychological impacts of vision impairment make an impact. Vision loss can lead to feelings such as frustration, loss of confidence, and loneliness. Learning to adjust to change these changes can also lead to fear of falling, fear of being overly dependent on a caregiver, and depression. Caregivers might feel grief, anxiety, and tension. Acknowledging your feelings and seeking support from your community, therapist, or peers can help.
Caregivers can easily become overwhelmed and overextended. Be sure to take breaks, ask for help, and take care of your own health. Learning about external services that can assist you and your loved one is key. Ask questions at appointments and take notes; it’s often helpful to have a dedicated notebook to help with managing this information.
Helpful Tips for Managing Visual Impairment
Prevent Blindness offers the following recommendations for living well with low vision:
- Contrasting colors (black/white, black/yellow, blue/yellow) can be helpful. Limit the number of colors.
- For written communication, avoid cursive. Use a dark bold pen or marker instead of a pencil. In email communication, set the font size to at least 16 points and use easy-to-read fonts like Arial.
- Learn about low vision technology and devices, which can enhance independence.
- Adapt the home environment for safer and easier living.
- Describe locations, people, and objects by speaking to help your loved one “see” with their ears. To help locate food on a plate, describe locations as though you’re looking at a clock face – The peas are at 12 o’clock, and the chicken is at 3 o’clock.
- Stay involved in social and community events. Consider joining a support group to meet and learn from others with visual impairments.
- For guiding, your loved one can maintain contact by grasping your arm. Stay one step ahead when guiding them on stairs. For seating, allow them to touch the chair or bench first, then seat themselves. Verbal descriptions of the style of seating can make this process easier.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
