|
Think about your daily routine—the mundane things you do in the
course of your day without really thinking about them. Now imagine
suddenly having to accomplish these once-familiar tasks without the
use of your eyes.
The early stages of vision loss can seem overwhelming, fortunately, for every problem there are many
practical, attainable solutions.
Will
mom still be able to read?
Absolutely. If your mother still has some vision, a low vision
specialist can prescribe and/or recommend magnification
devices and lighting
modifications. Most libraries and even many commercial
booksellers offer large print selections. And don't forget audio
books. Already popular with sighted audiences, audio books enable
listeners to enjoy a wide selection of books and periodicals on
cassettes and CDs. Free loan audio material, playback equipment, and
accessories are available through the National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and its Talking
Books program.
It's
getting more and more difficult for Granddad and me to continue our
weekly card game. Is there anything we can do?
|
Games, like Bingo and dominos,
are available in formats specifically designed for people with vision loss.
|
|
Playing cards—not to mention chess, checkers and most board
games—are now available in large-size and tactile versions and
can be purchased through catalogs that specialize in vision-related
products. See the Games
section, and this list: Household, Personal and Other Independent Living Products.
Mom
and Dad used to watch TV together all the time. Now Dad can't see the
TV. And he says the remote is too complicated.
Don't
throw out the TV just yet. Have your father try moving closer to the
television. There are also screen magnifiers available, although
their effectiveness is limited. You can also minimize glare by
moving the TV away from windows or by using shades or blinds.
TV remote controls are enough of a challenge for sighted people these
days, with many seeming to have enough keys to control NASA's Mars
probe. Again, you can consult our Household, Personal and Other Independent Living Products and other vision-related
specialty catalogs for talking remotes, or remotes with simpler controls and
large-print/high-contrast keys or tactile keys. You might have to experiment to see which remote control works best for your father.
Help!
My sister gets very disoriented due to her vision loss. She used to
go to her outside mailbox but now she can't find it.
Your sister may be helped by an Orientation and
Mobility Specialist who is
specially trained to help persons with vision loss to regain their
ability to get around in their home and community. You can search AFB's Directory
of Services for O&M instruction in your area.
I am
afraid Dad will fall. He trips all the time.
You're right to be concerned. Vision loss often affects balance,
making it one of the major causes of accidental falls. And for older
Americans there's the increased risk of broken bones or serious head
injuries.
Before your father has a serious fall, do a quick home survey to make
sure pathways are clear and that items such as throw rugs are not
contributing to the problem. Your father might also benefit from a
cane, which can help both with his balance and detecting objects in
his path. For more ideas, see the Changing Your Home section, where you can find
the Home Survey Checklist, and Orientation
& Mobility page. You can also take a look at the Fitness section for some simple exercises that may help improve your's father's balance.
When
I try to walk with my brother, I don't know how to help him. There
must be some way to help a person who can't see.
Sighted guide is a technique that has been developed by the vision
rehabilitation field just for this reason. It is covered in our
article, Walking with a Sighted Guide.
Grandma
fell in her bathroom recently, which gave us all quite a scare. She
says she can't tell where things are since everything is white. What
can I do to help her?
Adding
color contrasts to the bathroom should help. Using dark-colored
towels and bathmats or installing color fixtures will help them pop
out against white enamel. Of course, it is essential to use non-skid
mats and grab bars in the bathroom. For more ideas, check out the article, Your Bathroom, and
the Home
Survey Checklist.
Cooking
has turned into a real chore for Mom. She used to enjoy it, but now
she says she can't see enough to measure ingredients properly, set
the temperature for the stove, or even identify utensils and types of
food. What can she do?
Encourage your mother to keep trying—there are a great many
resources available to help. Schedule a home visit from a
rehabilitation specialist who can get her started on new cooking
techniques as well as adapting her kitchen space to make it safer and
easier to navigate. In the meantime, complete the Home
Survey Checklist to
determine what you can do today to make your mother's kitchen more
accessible, and visit the Cooking and Kitchen sections for some tips.
My
dad is having a hard time at mealtime, so much so that he absolutely
refuses to go to a restaurant any more. He says he creates a mess at
the table and can't find his food.
|
Your loved ones can still enjoy a meal out. |
There are some simple techniques
that can help. The clock method is an excellent method of locating
food and other items at a place setting. For example, you can tell
your father that his roast beef is at noon and his water glass at 2
o'clock. You can also use plates and placemats that contrast with
each other, non-skid placemats and other surfaces, and other special
utensils. For more ideas, see the Dining Room, Eating, and
Eating Out sections. For helpful products, go to
the Household, Personal and Other Independent Living Products
page.
Mom
used to write me letters all the time. Now she says she can't see well enough to
write. I miss her letters. Any suggestions?
Try writing guides for letter writing, signatures, addressing
envelopes, and writing and endorsing checks. They can be obtained
through vision rehabilitation agencies and vision-related specialty
catalogs—see the Writing section and the
Household, Personal and Other Independent Living Products
page.
Before
experiencing vision loss, Dad called me at least once per week. Now
he says he can't see my number or even dial the phone accurately.
What's the solution?
Large-print/high-contrast telephones are available through some
retail stores or through vision-related specialty catalogs. Also,
programmable phones that employ one-button dialing and even
voice-activated dialing are now readily available, if not standard.
Some phone companies provide directory assistance and phone dialing
free of charge upon completion of a special application signed by a
physician. Check with your local phone company for the availability
of this service. Also, check out this page, Work the Phones.
Mom
doesn't know how to organize her money when she shops.
Conquering money matters is absolutely essential if your mother is to
maintain any level of independence. Fortunately, this is a highly
achievable goal. See the Identifying Money article for some tips.
And what about banking?
Most
banks can order raised line checks for their patrons, and writing
templates and large-print check registers are available that make it
easier to write, sign, and keep track of checks. Online banking is
another option, especially if dad is comfortable using a computer.
Large print and speech programs for computer are easy to find.
See
the Managing Your Finances section for more
detailed tips on identifying money, banking, and paying bills.
My
husband can't tell time anymore since he can't read the face of his
watch.
|
Tell time using a watch with large numbers that contrast with the watch face.
|
|
There are a variety of options available to your husband; read the It's About Time article for more information.
Dad
has diabetes and says he can no longer check his blood sugar or give
himself shots because he can't see the insulin gauge.
There are a number of diabetic aids and appliances that can help
individuals with diabetes and vision loss to remain independent, such
as talking glucometers to check glucose levels and count-a-dose
devices to ensure that insulin dosages are calibrated correctly. See
AFB's Diabetes handbook for more information.
My
wife is on a diet and wants to be able to check her weight daily.
However, she can't read a weight scale.
|
Scale with large numerals
|
Both low vision and talking scales are available through the
vision-related specialty catalogs listed in the Household, Personal and Other Independent Living Products section.
Mom
used to take pride in her appearance. Now she wears clothes that
don't match. Does her recent vision loss have something to do with
it?
Probably, but there are ways you can help her reorganize her
clothing. Suggest hanging similarly colored clothes together in
designated sections of the closet, or you can help your mother put
outfits together for the coming week. Be sure to stress that you
want to work together to develop a method that makes sense for her.
See the Clothing and Grooming sections of this site for more ideas.
Dad
is afraid he he'll have to stop working. Can I give him some hope?
Tell him that the fastest growing segment of workers in the U.S. is
individuals age 55 and older, many of whom have some degree of vision
loss. So yes, encourage your father to explore any and all
employment options. Every state has vocational rehabilitation
programs for people with vision loss. You can find information about
what's available in your state by contacting AFB's Information Center
at afbinfo@afb.net
or by calling toll-free 1-800-232-5463.
For
More Information:
|
My family is my biggest support.
