Elder Care in Lansing MI
Glaucoma impacts just under 3 million people throughout the United States. Actually a cluster of diseases that damage the optic nerve, this condition begins with no symptoms. Over time, however, the damage to the optic nerve results in the vision loss. This begins with peripheral vision, creating tunnel vision, and then eventually moves into the central field of vision, resulting in blindness. These changes in vision can make a tremendous difference in your parent’s quality of life, impacting both their safety and their ability to enjoy their favorite activities or maintain their independence as they wish to. The care that you give them can help them to manage their symptoms in the way that is right for them so that they can continue to enjoy the lifestyle that they deserve as they age in place.
Use these tips to help you care for a senior who is living with glaucoma:
• Encourage physical activity. Reducing the pressure in their eyes can help your aging parent manage their symptoms and potentially slow the progression of the disease. Talk to their doctor about exercises that they can perform to reduce their eye pressure while keeping the rest of their body healthy as well, and then encourage them to keep up with this exercise.
• Elevate their head while sleeping. Help your senior further reduce their intraocular pressure by lifting their head to a 20-degree angle while sleeping. For best results, choose a wedge pillow that will provide consistent support rather than stacking pillows, as these will flatten during the night.
• Reduce fall risk. Even a slight decrease in the acuity of your parent’s vision can increase the chances that they will suffer a fall. This can result in very serious injuries that diminish their mobility, physical functioning, and quality of life as they age. This can include rearranging their home to remove dangers and offering physical support and assistance to keep them on their feet.
• Encourage medication compliance. When your parent is diagnosed with glaucoma their eye doctor will prescribe medications and give instructions for how these should be taken. Encourage your elderly loved one to remain fully compliant with these medications by taking them when and how they are intended. This will ensure that they get the maximum benefit.
Starting elder care can be one of the best decisions that you can make for your aging parent throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. When your loved one is suffering a condition that negatively impacts their functioning such as glaucoma, the personalized services of an elderly home care services provider can be instrumental in helping them to adapt to the changes that have occurred due to the condition and provide support so that they can continue to live an engaged, fulfilling quality of life as they age in place. This can include helping them to modify their home and daily life in ways that will help them to reduce safety risks that might arise due to their changes. When it comes to glaucoma, this care provider can help your senior avoid falls, prevent other dangers, and find ways to continue enjoying their favorite activities to support their quality of life in their later years.
Source
https://nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma/glaucoma_facts
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glaucoma/basics/definition/con-20024042
http://www.visionproblemsus.org/glaucoma/glaucoma-map.html
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Lansing, MI, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors of Lansing. Call today: 517-332-9953.