Live at Home Longer By Protecting Your Eyesight
Eighty percent of all Americans would rather age in place. We’re most at home—at home. We like being kings and queens of our own castle. Whether you live alone, have a spouse, or are a caregiver/family member of an elder, you want to know they’re safe. How can you stay at home longer—and still be safe? One simple change might help, and that’s getting your senior’s eyes checked yearly. According to the American Association of Family Physicians, one in three aging adults will have some vision-reducing eye disease by the age of 65.
Aging and Eyesight:
Eye issues come into play as we age. For most of us, by our 40th birthday our eye sight has begun to change. Glaucoma, cataracts, retinal disorders and corneal diseases are just a few eye conditions can greatly impair our sight as we age. Not being able to see well in our own homes can lead to tripping, falling, and misjudging our environment, such as not realizing the stove was left on or that something is on the stairs, or a bunched up throw rug just inviting us to take a tumble.
Have Your Eyesight Checked Annually:
ARED’s (Age Related Eye Disorders) can greatly affect our lives as we age. We change our driving habits. We avoid stairs, crowds—anything that can cause us to trip. We read less. We don’t check medication labels. We find more and more ways to avoid, deny, and compensate. We don’t want to be told that we can no longer drive so we conveniently or subconsciously allow our driver’s license permit to expire—and we keep driving—or as caregivers, we simply don’t ask. Knowing the signs of eye problems can help prevent eye disease. Diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure can greatly affect your eyes. Check out the National Institute on Aging eye care website.
Take a deep breath and make the eye doctor appointment. Be sure to see an ophthalmologist—an eye doctor trained to recognize and treat eye diseases. By attending to our eyes regularly we can circumvent catastrophes.
Know That There Are Lots of Medications and Treatments to Keep You Seeing for Years to Come:
It’s not all bad news. My mom had cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery—and she was still able to drive well into her 80s. Eye surgery is something you can recover from. Medications, treatments, exercises, better glasses…there are lots of alternatives and options to help you see longer and enjoy healthy eyesight.
Know That Eyesight Change is Inevitable:
Our eyes change. They’ve been our faithful windows to the world, but life does take its turns. Thank your eyes for all you’ve seen and experienced and be okay with the changes that come your way (what’s the alternative? Be grumpy and resentful?) We adjust far better to things we expect—so let’s make plans.
Even If Your Eyesight is a Catalyst For a Few Life Changes—Have Plan B and C in Place:
Eventually we’ll all have to stop driving (most likely). Eventually, we may have to have help going up and down the stairs. Eventually, it may not be safe for us to live alone. So stop avoiding and start planning. Want to stay in your own home? Consider live-in help. Offer free-rent to a family member, care person, or college student. Might need to move? Investigate assisted living facilities, small group home and other living options for yourself—why leave it to others to decide where you’re going to live? Looking at the possibility to not being able to drive? Check out local options such as senior van shuttles, taxis, local volunteers or carpooling with other senior drivers.
