My mom lost her vision in her mid 70's but managed to live on her own quite well until her health failed in her 90's. Get in touch with local low vision training services, there are so many techniques and devices available to make life easier. I do regret not getting my mom CCTV/Video magnifier, they are so expensive but I think it would have been so helpful. Another big challenge for us was that due to her rural location mom's vision loss was isolating, in hindsight I realize it must have been excruciatingly lonely.
My father had Wet Macular Degeneration for many years until he was declared legally blind. He had the shots in his eyes four times a year but it still progressed. He would still surprise me by what he could pick up peripherally but that slowly deteriorated as well.
It was devastating for him as he was an avid competition shooter and a voracious reader. Eventually he got into audio books but the depression of losing his eyesight got the better of him and he lost interest in everything. He passed away in 2021 and I now wish I would've spoken to his physician about an anti-depressant but he probably would've rejected the idea. Still, wish I had tried.
Search online for items that can assist your loved one: a chiming clock or large display clock to help them know time during the day, large magnifying readers, yellow lens glasses to help reduce glare, keep glaring light out of the home. Any bright light pouring in did not help my Dad at all and made his vision even poorer. A rolling walker is helpful to keep items in the seat that they may want with them during the day. It also helps navigate easier around corners or furniture that they can walk into with their legs. With vision loss comes vertigo and balance problems so the walker is useful in that regard as well.
My husband had many medical issues, but one of the most heartbreaking was macular degeneration. Although his never progressed to the wet stage where the injections are helpful, he was no longer able to read easily or use his computer well and couldn’t make out faces.
We took practical measures such as a talking watch, tactile cues(bump dots), specialized computer keyboard, etc. I was very fortunate that he knew when it was time to stop driving. Please let us know specifics and perhaps we can help you better.
Looking at your profile, I see that you’re caring for your husband. If he is homebound, I would recommend an occupational therapy evaluation in addition to seeking other community resources.
My MIL gets some kind of shots in her eyes for that. She still reads regular books at 90. Has your doctor suggested this? They are not as bad as they sound.
Wet Macular Degeneration is a dreadful thing. Is your elder seeing a good doctor? Is he/she getting the eye injections that I am told are helpful in preventing the worsening of this condition by some amount?
Do know that while this often causes blindness it is usually of the central vision with some peripheral vision left so that some elders do better than you would think.
Get all the assistance you are able to. There are many federal and state agencies in line to help those with blindness. Google is your friend in looking for this in your area. Federal & State Benefits for the Legally Blind | Legal Beagle is a place to start to look.
It was devastating for him as he was an avid competition shooter and a voracious reader. Eventually he got into audio books but the depression of losing his eyesight got the better of him and he lost interest in everything. He passed away in 2021 and I now wish I would've spoken to his physician about an anti-depressant but he probably would've rejected the idea. Still, wish I had tried.
Search online for items that can assist your loved one: a chiming clock or large display clock to help them know time during the day, large magnifying readers, yellow lens glasses to help reduce glare, keep glaring light out of the home. Any bright light pouring in did not help my Dad at all and made his vision even poorer. A rolling walker is helpful to keep items in the seat that they may want with them during the day. It also helps navigate easier around corners or furniture that they can walk into with their legs. With vision loss comes vertigo and balance problems so the walker is useful in that regard as well.
We took practical measures such as a talking watch, tactile cues(bump dots), specialized computer keyboard, etc. I was very fortunate that he knew when it was time to stop driving. Please let us know specifics and perhaps we can help you better.
Looking at your profile, I see that you’re caring for your husband. If he is homebound, I would recommend an occupational therapy evaluation in addition to seeking other community resources.
Do know that while this often causes blindness it is usually of the central vision with some peripheral vision left so that some elders do better than you would think.
Get all the assistance you are able to. There are many federal and state agencies in line to help those with blindness. Google is your friend in looking for this in your area.
Federal & State Benefits for the Legally Blind | Legal Beagle is a place to start to look.
Do you have specific questions for us?