The world around your loved one deserves to be seen and enjoyed but for many elderly individuals, the loss of sight can make it difficult to not only enjoy seeing the world around them but navigating through it to do everyday activities.
March is National Save Your Vision Month
Because of the extreme importance that having good vision, the American Optometric Association created National Save Your Vision Month, which is celebrated in March of each year. The month serves as a reminder that everyone needs to take care of their vision. As a caregiver of an elderly loved one, you can help your loved one take care of the vision she has, whether it’s perfect 20/20 vision or if she’s had some vision loss.
Five Habits for Protecting Vision
Now is a great time to kick off some healthy vision habits or reinforce those your loved one has already been practicing.
- Make sure those vision appointments are scheduled and attended. Even if your loved one has great vision without any immediate concern, she should still attend her regular eye exams. Optometrists can catch problems before your loved one is aware of them, increasing the likelihood of less vision loss.
- Eat plenty of foods that provide essential nutrients for strong eyesight. Some great items to include in your loved one’s diet include leafy green vegetables and fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids like tuna and salmon.
- Protect the eyes from the sun. Wearing sunglasses when outside not only makes it easier for your loved one to see in bright light, but they also protect her eyes from the harmful effects of the sun. A wide-brimmed hat can also provide shade from the overhead sun.
- Limit screen time. New to this millennium is the need to protect your loved one’s eyes from too much digital screen time, especially up close. If your loved one likes to use her laptop or play games on her phone, remind her to take a break at least every 20 minutes and stop looking at the screen to rest her eyes.
- Stop smoking. Smoking puts users at an increased risk of developing serious eye issues, including blindness. The sooner she can stop smoking, the sooner her body will begin to recover from the damage done.
Vision Assistance with Companion Care at Home
If your loved one already has significant vision loss or low vision, she can still enjoy many of life’s activities – she just may need a bit more help to enjoy those activities safely. A companion care at home provider can help your loved one navigate areas of her home so she can still participate in daily activities like cooking, cleaning, and grooming. Her companion care at home provider can assist by taking care of the tasks that her vision loss makes especially difficult such as chopping vegetables in the kitchen or personal grooming chores like shaving.
Companion care at home providers can also enrich your loved one’s life by reading to her or driving her to events as needed. With a trusted companion care at home provider, your loved one can continue to explore the world around her safely and with someone that she trusts.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Companion Care at Home in Brewster, NY, please contact the caring staff at Elderly Caregivers LLC. today at (203) 628-7438
- Five Healthy Habits for Protecting Vision - February 19, 2025
- Five Tips for Stroke Recovery Once at Home - February 6, 2025
- Five Ways to Celebrate American Heart Month this February - January 17, 2025
