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Routine Eye Care for Seniors

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BrightStar Care

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Jul 19, 2023

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Florida - Southwest

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Deteriorating eyesight is a common concern for older adults. However, no vision problem should be ignored. Changes in how you see could point to an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Even if the changes are harmless, chances are an eye doctor can treat your eyesight troubles and improve your quality of life.

Eye Conditions & Disorders Common Among Seniors

Aging eyes are often more delicate and prone to problems than younger eyes. Many seniors also have diabetes or other underlying problems that complicate eye care. As a result, the risk of developing eye conditions increases when you reach your 60s and beyond. These include:

Trouble focusing on up-close objects (presbyopia)
Difficulty discerning contrast between colors
Needing more light to read
Pupil contraction
Eyelid inflammation
Loss of peripheral vision
Dry eye
Floaters

Serious eye disorders (Opens in a new window) are also more likely to appear with age, including:

Cataracts: A cloudy area in the lens of the eye, or cataract, develops slowly over time. Most people develop cataracts when they get older. Fortunately, the condition is treatable by surgically replacing the affected lens with an artificial one.
Glaucoma: This group of eye diseases damages the optic nerve, causing gradual vision loss. A comprehensive eye exam is the only way to diagnose glaucoma before symptoms appear. Treatment options include eye drops, other medications, and surgery.
Macular degeneration: The largest risk factor for age-related macular degeneration is being 50 or older. This disorder causes vision loss in the center of the field of vision, but it rarely leads to complete blindness. There are ways to slow the progression of macular degeneration, but surgery is the only way to fix it.
Diabetic retinopathy: This progressive condition affects people with high blood sugar. It can cause vision loss and eventual blindness if left untreated. While not curable, diabetic retinopathy can be slowed or stopped by taking medication and controlling underlying diabetes.
Retinal detachment: When the tissue at the back of the eye (known as the retina) pulls away from the supportive tissues surrounding it, a sudden loss of peripheral vision, flashes of light, or excessive floaters may occur. This rare condition requires prompt medical attention to save the vision in the affected eye.

Why Routine Eye Care for Seniors is So Important

Whether you’re experiencing typical age-related vision changes or symptoms of a concerning eye disorder, you should plan to make routine eye care an integral part of your health regimen. Here’s why:

Detect problems early: Vision problems progress more quickly in older adults, meaning routine eye care is essential to identify a condition or disease and begin treatment before it significantly affects your eyesight. Seniors are advised to visit the eye doctor once a year.
Preserve your eyesight: Managing diagnosed eye conditions with medication and routine eye appointments can help your vision remain as clear as possible for as long as possible. This allows you to continue enjoying the hobbies and passions you love, such as reading, golfing, or knitting.
Continue driving safely: Slowly degenerating eyesight can make driving unsafe, yet you may be reluctant to give up the car keys. Eye care for seniors can help you drive safely for years longer than if you neglected your eyesight.
Reduce falls: Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults, but they are not an inevitable part of aging. Scheduling routine eye exams to check for visual acuity can reduce your risk of falling and getting injured.

In-Home Care Professionals Promote Senior Eye Health

If you’re the family member of an aging adult, you may have safety concerns as they navigate the changing vision that comes with age. That’s where an in-home care provider (Opens in a new window) can prove invaluable. Here’s how this professional can assist your loved one:

Offer eye exam reminders: Keeping up with routine eye care is important for all seniors. A care provider can remind your loved one when it’s time to schedule or attend an eye exam and can even arrange transportation if needed.
Create a safer home environment: Poor eyesight increases the risk of accidents. A care professional can help make a senior’s home safer(Opens in a new window) by removing obstacles that could lead to a slip, trip, or fall.
Handle daily tasks: Reading recipes, matching laundered socks, shaving, and putting on makeup is difficult to do with vision problems. A caregiver can provide the help a senior needs when attempting to complete these and other day-to-day tasks.
Assist with vision aids: Whether your loved one needs to keep track of their glasses, adjust their cell phone for easier viewing, or set up voiceover features on the TV, an in-home care provider is the perfect person to help.
Manage risk factors: Certain lifestyle tips can improve vision and slow the progression of age-related eye diseases. A care professional can prepare nutritious meals, encourage regular exercise, and remind older adults to take their medications, all of which promote eye health.
Offer companionship: Vision loss makes older adults more prone to loneliness and isolation. A caregiver doubles as a social companion, providing stimulating interaction in the comfort of the senior’s home.

Arrange Personal Care Services from BrightStar Care

The compassionate, knowledgeable home care professionals at BrightStar Care always strive to give you more—more convenience, more security, more peace of mind. Whether they’re arranging transportation to an eye exam, reminding a senior to apply their eye drops, or reading incoming text messages from family members, you can feel confident your loved one is cared for, even when you can’t be there.

To view the original version of this article visit www.brightstarcare.com/about-brightstar-care/resources/routine-eye-care-for-seniors/
Seniors Blue Book was not involved in the creation of this content.

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BrightStar Care of Naples & Ft. Myers

Non-Medical 2545 Northbrooke Plaza Drive, Naples, Florida, 34119

BrightStar Care is a leading in-home care agency that has been serving Lee and Collier counties since 2006. With a wealth of experience spanning 18 years, we have become a trusted name in providing compassionate and professional care to individuals within the comfort of their own homes. At BrightStar Care, we offer a wide range of services to meet the diverse needs of our clients, including both Medical and Non-Medical Care. Our non-medical care, also referred to as non-skilled care, includes assistance with IADLs such as transportation, meal preparation, medication reminders light housekeeping, laundry and ADLs such as assistance with personal care needs, transferring, and feeding. Our medical care, also referred to as skilled care, services encompass more complex medical needs with care being provided by an LPN or RN. Some of the Skilled services we offer include case management, medication management, medication administration and teaching, wound care and wound vac, disease education and monitoring, IV treatments and line maintenance, catheter and ostomy care, home safety evaluation and much more. In addition to non-skilled and skilled care, BrightStar Care takes pride in offering physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) services. Our team of licensed therapists collaborates closely with clients to develop personalized treatment plans, aiding in the restoration of independence, improvement of mobility, and enhancement of overall quality of life. Another aspect that sets BrightStar Care apart is our medical staffing services. We understand the significance of having qualified and reliable healthcare professionals in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Through our medical staffing solutions, we provide healthcare organizations with certified nursing assistants, skilled nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals on either a temporary or permanent basis. As an organization, we hold the prestigious Joint Commission Accreditation, which represents the gold standard in healthcare. This accreditation validates our commitment to delivering the highest standard of in-home care through quality and safety. Our dedication to providing top-notch care is further exemplified by our rigorous care team member selection and training processes. We carefully choose and train our care team members to ensure they possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and compassion to provide exceptional care to our clients. Furthermore, our thorough screening process, including background checks, drug testing, and reference verifications, instills peace of mind in our clients. Additionally, all our care team members undergo extensive hands-on training with our Director of Nursing, which includes comprehensive skills review, disease-specific training programs, as well as Dementia Live and our own Alzheimer's training called Bright Connections. What truly distinguishes us, however, is our genuine commitment to providing personalized care tailored to the unique needs of our clients. Our Rns create a comprehensive personalized plan of cares for each client. We believe in cultivating meaningful relationships with our clients and their families, creating a warm and supportive environment that promotes overall well-being which is why we created our own program called Purposeful Engagements.In recognition of our efforts to provide peace of mind to clients and their families, BrightStar Care has received numerous awards, including the Home Care Pulse awards for Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice, and Leader in Excellence. When it comes to in-home care, BrightStar Care is the agency of choice for those seeking exceptional care, compassion, and support. Our mission is to enhance the lives of our clients, enabling them to live comfortably and independently in their own homes through delivering a higher standard of in home care and providing peace of mind. Having proudly served Lee and Collier counties for over 18 years, we are excited to continue delivering exceptional in-home care services to our community.