Our bodies change as we age, and one thing that is frequently forgotten is how our vision changes. Our daily lives depend heavily on our vision, which has an impact on everything from our safety to our ability to navigate our environment. Vision problems in seniors can be very difficult to manage and raise their risk of falling, which can have serious implications. We’ll discuss the link between vision issues and senior safety in this blog, illuminating the hidden risks that many seniors encounter. We’ll also explore how the home care team can help keep seniors safe.

Understanding the Effects of Aging on Eyesight

Seniors may face a variety of eye-related problems as they age, beyond the natural reduction in eyesight that occurs with simply aging. These issues include conditions like presbyopia, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, all of which impair depth perception, peripheral awareness, and clarity of vision. Seniors may find it more difficult to recognize possible risks and safely navigate their surroundings as a result of these changes.

How Vision Issues Impact Fall Risk

The increased risk of falls among seniors with visual problems is quite concerning. Falls are already one of the most common ways that seniors become hurt, and they can have major effects like fractures, brain trauma, and general health decline. Seniors who have impaired vision are more likely to fall because they may find it difficult to recognize barriers, elevation changes, or tripping hazards.

Additionally, changes in seniors’ vision decrease their ability to perceive depth and spatial awareness. This can make it harder for them to judge distances correctly, which also makes it harder to maneuver around curbs, stairs, and uneven surfaces. This means that seniors who have poor depth perception are more likely to slip and fall, especially in strange places.

Another note to consider is that the ability to see movement within our environment depends on peripheral vision. However, with age, peripheral vision declines, making it harder for seniors to identify potential threats coming from the sides. This becomes especially problematic in busy areas, as seniors may find it difficult to maneuver through a maze of people or items, which raises the risk of falls and collisions.

How Home Care Supports Seniors With Vision Issues

The first step in ensuring senior safety is realizing how important it is to take care of vision problems. For the early detection and treatment of age-related eye disorders, routine eye exams are crucial. The home care team can encourage seniors to make and keep their vision appointments, as well as provide transportation when needed.

Also, seniors’ visual experiences can be greatly improved and their risk of falling reduced with relatively simple interventions like installing adequate lighting in their homes. The home care team can assess possible issues by monitoring seniors and how they move in their space. From there, loved ones can add any safety measures that can increase seniors’ ability to move freely within their homes. Other things that might be considered, beyond additional lighting, are the installation of handrails.

Seniors who experience vision problems run a serious risk of falling and suffering injuries as a result. Acknowledging how aging affects vision and taking proactive steps to address these issues are important for promoting senior well-being. Loved ones and the home care team can create a safer and more secure environment for seniors by prioritizing routine eye exams, changing the surroundings, and spreading awareness.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Burlingame, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today (415) 463-1400

Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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