In the next eight years, it's estimated that around 70 million adults in the U.S. will be over the age of 65. One out of three of them will experience vision loss. While vision loss doesn't have to mean blindness, even a small change to your vision can increase your risk of falling or being unable to drive.
Your mom's vision is worsening. What can you do to ensure her home is as safe as possible? Check these areas first, and consider bringing in senior home care to help her continue aging in place safely.
Floors Need to Be Safe
Flooring must be safe. Carpeting that is torn may curl on the edges. Those curled edges become a tripping hazard. Slippery wood floors can be dangerous if your mom is wearing socks. Throw rugs that aren't backed with non-slip rubber are also risky.
When vision diminishes, it's important to avoid contrasts that can look like an uneven surface or gap. Try to make sure the flooring doesn't hide objects. A white dog curled up on white carpeting may become difficult to see.
Brighter Lighting Is Important
Older CFL bulbs may be dim until they've warmed up. Replace them with LED bulbs. They're energy-efficient and don't need time to warm up. LED bulbs are bright and illuminate rooms well.
Focus on all home areas that your mom is in or walks through. She's in the living room most of the day, but there's a long hallway between the living room and her bedroom. A poorly lit hallway can be dangerous. If she uses the bathroom in the middle of the night and needs to walk down the hallway again, floor-level, motion-activated lighting helps lower the risk of falling.
Remove Clutter
Clutter cannot be present in your mom's home. Clutter can cause falls. If she has furniture placed in ways that she needs to put a magazine rack in a walking path, she'll catch her toe and either fall or injure herself. All items need to have a home.
When you arrange furniture, make sure nothing juts out. Once you have the furniture placed, take any remaining items and find a home for them. Cube storage can fit many things your mom might often leave out.
Items like her knitting supplies could be put into a basket and placed in one section of cube storage. Books could be placed in stacks in another cube. Pillows and throw blankets can go into a storage hassock.
Is It Time to Have Someone Driving Her?
In addition to needing a safer home, your mom isn't supposed to drive. How do you ensure she has a safe ride to her medical appointments and running errands? Hire a senior home care aide to drive her to stores, restaurants, medical offices, and local businesses.
Your mom has a companion with her when she shops. If she struggles to see pricing and label information, her senior home care aide can read labels and tags for her. Call a home care agency to learn more.
Sources:
https://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0701/p99.html#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20causes%20of,damage%20and%20visual%20field%20loss.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING SENIOR HOME CARE IN LOS GATOS, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY (408) 317-4969.
