Changes in vision are often a common effect of aging, with more than 25% of U.S. adults over the age of 71 experiencing some form of visual impairment.

Visual impairment can range from low vision to moderate visual impairment to total blindness. With more than a quarter of seniors experiencing some form of visual impairment, caregivers must be prepared to provide specialize care and support.

To help your caregivers assist clients with visual impairment, share these tips.

Modifications Caregivers Can Make for Visually Impaired Clients

By customizing care, your caregivers can enable visually impaired seniors to thrive in their homes. Consider these approaches:

• Prevent falls — Falls pose a severe risk to the well-being of all seniors, but visually impaired clients face an even higher risk.
  • Keep chairs pushed in at all times.
  • Install safe flooring, including warning textiles in front of doorways.
  • Clean up any spills immediately.
  • Eliminate tripping hazards.

• Support mental health — Vision loss can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, including depression. In addition to checking on clients’ physical health, check in on their mental health too.

• Label home goods, foods and medications —Use braille labels on food and medications. If a client does not know how to read braille, varying amounts of rubber bands can be used to mark a container. Pipe cleaners, Velcro and tactile stickers can also be used to label items like remotes, light switches, oven knobs and more.

• Encourage home improvements —Talk with clients and their families about making improvements to their home.
  • Add color and contrast to help seniors better explore their home and recognize household goods, such as vivid cushions and blankets to help find furniture.
  • Ensure proper handrails are installed in bathrooms and stairways.
  • Utilize artificial and natural light. Invest in automatic lights and motion sensors for hallways, with bright LED bulbs.
  • Organize the home so that frequently used items are easily found. Store items like cellphones, magnifying lenses, remote controls, wallets and more in easy-to-access places.

• Complete additional errands — Providing additional assistance for errands like grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments and pharmacy visits can be especially beneficial to clients with visual impairments. When accompanying a client on errands, ask if they would like to take your arm while walking and describe any obstacles such as curbs or steps.

• Provide other health services — When providing other care, such as checking blood pressure or glucose levels, explain the procedure clearly, asking if the client has questions before you begin. Always speak directly to the client, even if family members are in the room with them.

Coverage to Protect Your Caregivers

With coverage from Lockton Affinity Home Care, your business and your caregivers can be protected for the services they provide.

Our General Liability + Professional Liability insurance policy covers your business from allegations of bodily injury and property damage and protects your caregivers from claims of negligence or failure to perform professional duties.

Learn more about the coverage offered by Lockton Affinity Home Care or complete a 5-minute price indication request to see what our coverage will look like for your business.