Vision loss is a common issue among seniors, and there are many conditions that can cause it. One of those conditions is Cataracts. However, no matter the cause of vision loss, it is also a loss of independence for your loved one. Senior home care can help be your seniors’ eyes as they work through their vision loss throughout their daily lives.
Understanding the Diagnoses is Important
Cataracts are a common eye condition that affects the clarity of the lens in the eye, causing vision loss. The lens is a clear, flexible structure located behind the iris (the colored part of the eye) that helps to focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye.
A cataract occurs when the proteins in the lens begin to clump together and cloud the lens, making it difficult for light to pass through. This can cause vision to become blurry, cloudy, or dim, and may make it difficult to see in low light conditions or to read the fine print.
Cataracts are most commonly caused by aging, but they can also be caused by other factors such as injury to the eye, certain medications, and some medical conditions such as diabetes. Symptoms of cataracts may include:
- Blurred, hazy, or cloudy vision
- Double vision in one eye
- Difficulty seeing in low-light conditions
- Sensitivity to glare
- Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Difficulty driving at night
Cataracts can usually be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor, and treatment may include corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses, or surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one.
How Can Senior Home Care Help Manage Your Senior’s Cataract Diagnosis?
Cataracts can have a significant impact on a person’s life, especially if left untreated. Even though they can impact a person’s life, senior home care assistance can help manage this impact by being their daily companion to help with things they might not be able to do by themselves any longer.
Cataracts can increase the risk of accidents and falls, especially in older adults. This is because cataracts can reduce visual acuity and depth perception, making it difficult to judge distances or see obstacles. Having a senior home care professional in your loved one’s home can help reduce the hazards around that could cause accidents.
As vision becomes more impaired, a person with cataracts may become more dependent on others for assistance with daily activities such as driving, cooking, and reading. Helping with daily activities is part of the job for a home care professional.
Vision loss can also have a significant emotional impact, causing feelings of frustration, anxiety, and depression. This can be especially true for seniors, who may fear losing their independence or becoming a burden on their loved ones. Having a permeant in-home companion in the home can help mitigate some of that impact.
Overall, cataracts can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life, making it more difficult to engage in activities they enjoy and to maintain social connections. Giving your senior the peace of mind that they have someone there at all times will help manage their concerns for their condition as well as family members that may be the responsible caregiver. Senior home care can help not only improve your senior’s quality of life but the entire family’s as well.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Vista, CA please contact the caring staff at A Passion for Care today. Call (858) 798-5005
A Passion for Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, Encinitas, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, Point Loma, and surrounding areas.
Making the transition to a completely new industry brought the opportunity to learn and grow, which continues still today. Pat studied Gerontology in San Diego State University’s certificate program and became licensed as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), a Home Health Aide (HHA), and completed the California Certification Program for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCCFE) as a Certified Administrator. She presented workshops at Aging in America Conference four years in a row and served as Chair of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council 2019-2020 and was the education board member for several years. More recently, Pat became a Certified Senior Advisor and was a San Diego Business Journal “50 over 50 2022 Women of Influence Honoree”.
Pat and her husband Roland have lived outside San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley for over three decades. She has two children who are grown professionals and three grandchildren. Pat enjoys traveling to, and visits from, family and friends throughout the year. While at home in San Pasqual Valley, she and Roland enjoy peaceful views and exploring the surrounding valleys.
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