Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
As we age, we weather a number of changes, not the least of which may include vision loss. In fact, by the time we reach the age of 65, one in six suffers some type of visual impairment. As vision loss progresses and daily tasks become more difficult, it can mean losing the ability to live an independent life.
It’s Not All Bad News
Vision loss transforms life in unimaginable ways, but it doesn’t have to change your lifestyle forever. The fact is, seniors who struggle with vision loss have more choices today than any generation that has ever lived. Technological advances have made possible a lifestyle which, to previous generations, would have seemed nothing short of miraculous.
The goal is to foster Independence for seniors with vision loss
With vision loss, routine tasks that have always been taken for granted can turn into daily struggles. Showering, cooking, housekeeping, and laundry can become complicated and difficult. For these seniors, driving is out of the question.
These types of tasks, however, are exactly the types of tasks that assisted living communities are designed to facilitate.
Assisted Living Helps With:
. Personal supportive services<
. Meals
. Cleaning
. Health care
. Transportation to doctor’s appointments
. Shopping
Vision lss makes daily living tasks more complicated but it also takes a toll on the psyche. Very often, it can compromise someone’s ability to enjoy life, especially at first. Reading, watching television, and surfing the internet suddenly seem impossible.
Fortunately, there are technological solutions to many of these obstacles such as text-to-talk computer software and audio books. As people adapt and gain access to modification strategies, some pleasures are, once again, possible.
The larger issue, however, may be social isolation that results from vision impairment. This often begins when a senior gives up driving. It is compounded, however, when the struggles of daily living make socializing seem overwhelming. Even picking out the right clothes or fixing your hair is a struggle when your vision is impaired.
Social isolation may even lead to a whole host of other problems. According to the CDC, vision loss is linked to depression, among other health and safety issues.
In fact, when combined with other health issues a senior may have, vision loss can act as a multiplier for poor overall health.
Older Americans whose sight is impaired also run greater risk of falls and injuries which can, in turn, cause mobility issues. Combined with existing mobility limitations related to poor eyesight, new problems in getting around can make socialization suddenly seem entirely too burdensome.
Assisted living communities are, by definition, social communities that bring residents together. Whether it’s shared meals, group excursions, or the countless, daily regular interactions that take place during the course of a typical day, they bring seniors into contact with one another in ways that foster a positive environment for healthy living. At Tuscany Villa of Naples Assisted Living, new residents who once felt isolated and alone at home are finding a renewed sense of camaraderie and social enjoyment, whether it be listening to live entertainment, dining with new friends or just chatting comfortably within the beautiful community with neighbors. At Tuscany Villa of Naples, our residents are at the heart of everything we do.
Contact Tuscany Villa of Naples today! For more information and to schedule a private tour, please call them at (239) 775-2233.
