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Helping Your Senior with Macular Degeneration Thrive

Caring for an older relative may be challenging, especially if they have a condition that limits their ability to participate in daily activities. Macular degeneration, an advanced form of eye disease, is one example of such a condition. The macula, a tiny portion of the retina that enables us to clearly see minute details, deteriorates due to this disorder, making it the primary cause of vision loss and blindness in the elderly.

The macula is responsible for the ability to see small details, such as when threading a needle, reading small print text, or analyzing photographs. If you are feeling overwhelmed and think your senior needs more help than you can, it can be smart to find the right home care provider for them. This will give you some relief when working with professional home care, especially when caring for a senior with forms of degeneration. No matter who is helping, here are a few ways to ensure they thrive.

Look for Specialized Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist with special training in caring for older people with eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. These professionals will assess the extent of your loved one’s visual loss and instruct them to use assistive technologies that may be used at home to alleviate distressing symptoms. In addition, they can suggest various magnifying equipment, such as glasses, advanced technological vision aids, and more.

Ask Them What They Can See and Notice What They Cannot
Understanding your loved one with vision loss from their point of view will help you make necessary modifications. Brightening your home’s lighting, rearranging your rooms, and investing in special equipment are all options. These adjustments will help reduce the likelihood of their falling. To improve their ability to use common home objects, you may place a toothbrush against a white backdrop to make it more visible. It’s important to remember that any adjustments you make should be tailored to the needs of your loved one, rather than just being a modification you believe appropriate.

Understand and Learn About Macular Degeneration
Understanding what it’s like when the macula doesn’t function properly and visuals become blurry is possible with some reading on the subject. This can help you connect deeper with your family members and have more meaningful interactions. Your loved one may benefit from attending a support group, where they can interact with others who share their experience with poor vision and gain insight into how to manage the illness.

Understand There Will be Grieving Over Sight Loss
Losing one’s sight gradually is difficult for anybody and requires mental and emotional adjustment. Those given the news often react with shock and denial, especially if the diagnosis comes before the onset of any symptoms. After denial, bargaining, sadness, and rage, they may finally achieve acceptance, the last stage of the grieving process. Keep in mind that the phases of mourning are repetitive, so they may feel this way more than once.

Always Encourage Healthy Life Choices
Those with macular degeneration should make a concerted effort to stay active and keep their hearts beating. Low-vision individuals may benefit greatly from low-impact exercises like yoga, brisk walking, or riding a stationary bike, all of which are accessible and don’t need a treadmill. The same goes for recommending foods like potatoes, melons, spinach, and maize high in carotenoids, which have been shown to improve eye health.