Caregiving for Older Relatives with Disabilities
ELDER NEEDS FOR CAREGIVING
“Loss of vision means losing contact with things, but loss of hearing means losing contact with people.” – Helen Keller
As people age, the rate of vision loss and hearing loss increases dramatically. In fact, most people who are visually impaired are over age 65. Common causes of vision loss with age are : cataracts, glaucoma, complications of diabetes.
Signs of vision loss include:- Increased need for light
- Increased sensitivity to glare
- Decrease in depth perception
- Slower adjustment to different light conditions, e.g., when they come in from the dark to a well-lit room
- Reduced hue discrimination
- Reduced contrast sensitivity
Do NOT just accept vision impairment as a result of old age. See your doctor to treat glaucoma or cataracts. See an optometrist for better glasses. When visual impairment does occur, be aware that the person will usually have concerns related to their growing disability. These include problems with transportation, once their vision declines to the point the person cannot drive, they must rely on family members, agencies or public transportation. Daily living activities, such as cooking, may become more difficult as the person has difficulty reading instructions on packages or medication. One way around this is to make the same food over and over, but this may not be the best for nutrition. As far as medication, not being able to read the instructions is a major concern. Housekeeping becomes more of a challenge as the individual cannot see the dust gathering in the corner, or, of more concern, the spills on the floor that can cause a person to slip and fall.
On most reservations, there is no public transportation. Vocational rehabilitation is limited to people working or seeking jobs, so may not be available for older adults. Community Health Representatives (CHRs) may provide transportation to medical appointments and some assistance with housekeeping. Meals on Wheels can provide hot meals for older adults with disabilities. Still, most of the extra care and assistance will fall on the family.
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Emotional impact of caregiving on elders |