Losing our sight can be frightening, and often the ability to take care of oneself is also lost. Most people do not realise just how much we rely on sight to carry out the simplest things in the day. Vision loss, even if only mild loss, can be devastating and life changing for anyone.

What can cause loss of vision?

There are some medical conditions which can cause a loss of vision, namely:

• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration
• Retinitis pigmentosa

There are various stages that a person losing their vision may go through before finally accepting it. As a live-in carer it is important that we try to understand these stages and help our clients through them.

Denial

When first receiving the news that their eyesight is failing a person may not believe it is happening to them. This would then lead to the second stage.

Anger

The client may be angry and question why it has happened to them. While it may not be pleasant to be with a client who is angry because they have lost their vision, it is an essential part of the whole process of accepting blindness. Unfortunately, the anger may be directed at others who can see.

Depression

When a person feels helpless about a situation, this can easily lead to depression. Your client may feel alone in their anguish and not fully understand the full impact on their life. Depression can make people withdraw from society and in return leave them with a feeling of hopelessness.

Acceptance

This is regarded as the final stage and at this point a sense of hope may return. Once someone starts to feel more optimistic that life can still be enjoyable.

How can we help?

One effect that can happen with vision loss is the isolation that a person feels. It is important that they are helped to continue interacting with other people.

Simple things like inviting a friend around for tea will let your client know that life does go on.

While it may take a little organising it is possible to go for walks and meet other people.

Keeping the house safe

It is vital that the area where your client moves around is kept obstacle free at all times.

• Remove clutter
• Reposition chairs so there is a clear path to other rooms
• Make sure that rugs are flat with no curled edges

Other ideas

• High powered lenses can be used to read, and magnifying glass can also be at hand
• Using audio books is a good idea for clients where they can listen to the news or a story at any time 
• Increasing the brightness of lights may help a client to walk around in safety

Some tips

There are some things a live-in carer can do to help their client adjust to vision loss.

• Avoid being over protective
• Build self confidence in small steps
• Recognise progress and be sure to praise
• Encourage self reliance
• Talk about the issue, to a client this may be life changing
• Announce yourself when entering the room

Final thoughts

While there are many things a live-in carer can do to help a client with vision loss, perhaps one of the most important things is to ask for help if and when it is needed.

If you feel that things are not getting better, it is important to talk to your agency, or the family as they may be unaware of issues related to vision loss. 

Vision loss is life changing for anyone, and can quickly turn into depression. However, with some thought and preparation clients can still feel useful and appreciated.

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