Living With Glaucoma: Practical Ways to Enhance Your Quality of Life

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to shed light on this leading cause of blindness among older adults. Glaucoma affects the optic nerve and can lead to irreversible vision loss if left untreated. 

While there’s no cure, early diagnosis and proper treatment can slow the progression and help individuals maintain their independence and quality of life.

Here are practical tips and strategies for helping seniors with glaucoma adapt to their condition and enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle.

Enhance Visibility at Home

Creating a glaucoma-friendly, safe living environment is essential for improving day-to-day comfort and reducing the risk of accidents. With a few thoughtful adjustments, you can make life easier and more secure for someone living with glaucoma.

• Increase Lighting: Install brighter lights throughout the home and add focused task lighting in areas like reading nooks, kitchen counters, and workspaces. Opt for adjustable, glare-free lighting to reduce eye strain.
• Use High-Contrast Colors: Highlight the edges of steps, doorframes, and countertops with contrasting colors to make them more noticeable. This simple adjustment helps with navigation and reduces the chance of tripping or bumping into objects.
• Label Items Clearly: Use bold, high-contrast labels for important items like medication bottles, remote controls, and pantry items to make identification quick and hassle-free.

Utilize Sensory Aids and Tools

Technology and simple tools can make daily tasks more manageable for those with glaucoma, preserving independence and reducing frustration.

• Large-Print Materials: Replace standard books, calendars, and documents with versions featuring larger, easier-to-read font sizes. This can significantly reduce eye strain during reading.
• Magnifying Devices: Use handheld magnifiers or electronic magnification tools to make reading and detail-oriented tasks, like crafting or cooking, more accessible.
• Tactile Markings: Apply textured markers to make frequently used appliances, light switches, and remote controls easier to locate and operate without relying solely on vision.

By incorporating these simple yet effective changes, you can help improve the quality of life for someone living with glaucoma. These adjustments support their independence and create a safer, more accessible living space.

Declutter and Organize for Safety

A well-organized and clutter-free home is critical for minimizing fall risks and ensuring a safer environment for individuals with glaucoma. Simple adjustments can significantly improve daily comfort and mobility.

• Clear Walkways: Remove unnecessary furniture, loose rugs, and cords from high-traffic areas to create clear, unobstructed pathways.
• Organize Belongings: Store frequently used items in consistent, easily accessible locations to reduce the need for unnecessary searching or reaching.
• Install Safety Features: To enhance stability and reduce the likelihood of accidents, add grab bars in bathrooms, non-slip mats in kitchens, and sturdy handrails on staircases.

Engage in Adaptive Activities

Living with glaucoma doesn’t mean giving up on hobbies, creativity, or social interactions. Many activities can be adapted to accommodate low vision, allowing individuals to stay engaged and maintain their quality of life.

• Listen to Audiobooks: Audiobooks offer an enjoyable way to experience stories, learn, and stay mentally stimulated without the strain of reading.
• Music and Movement: Activities like singing, playing an instrument, swimming, or yoga don’t rely on strong vision and promote physical and emotional well-being.
• Arts and Crafts: Explore tactile or larger-scale projects such as pottery, knitting, or sculpting, which can be adapted for low vision.
• Social Card Games: Use large-print playing cards, Braille decks, or adapted board games to maintain social connections and enjoy recreational time with friends and family.

In-Home Caregivers at Always Best Care Support Individuals with Glaucoma

Living with glaucoma presents unique challenges, from navigating daily tasks to maintaining safety and independence. At Always Best Care, our compassionate in-home caregivers provide personalized support to help individuals with glaucoma live comfortably and confidently in their own homes.

Tailored Assistance for Daily Living

Our expert caregivers understand the importance of preserving independence while offering the right level of support. They assist with:

• Personal Care: Helping with tasks like bathing, dressing, and grooming, especially in spaces that may pose risks due to low visibility.
• Meal Preparation: Ensuring nutritious meals are prepared and accessible, with a focus on organizing kitchens for easy navigation.
• Medication Reminders: Helping with reminders to ensure timely and accurate dosing.

• Decluttering and Organizing Spaces: Ensuring walkways are clear and essential items are within easy reach.
• Identifying Hazards: Assisting with the placement of non-slip mats, grab bars, and improved lighting to create a safer home environment.
• Monitoring Changes: Keeping an eye out for signs of vision-related struggles and making recommendations to further enhance safety.

• Offering Companionship: Engaging in conversation, accompanying clients on walks, or participating in adapted hobbies.
• Encouraging Social Connections: Assisting with transportation to social activities or facilitating video calls with loved ones.
• Promoting Well-Being: Supporting involvement in enjoyable, low-vision-friendly activities like listening to music or audiobooks, crafting, or light gardening.

Take Control of Glaucoma With Always Best Care!

Life with glaucoma requires adjustments; however, with the right support and approaches, seniors can continue to thrive. If your loved one has glaucoma and could benefit from personalized care and assistance, Always Best Care is here to help.

Contact Always Best Care of Baton Rouge at (225) 771-8605 to learn more and schedule your free consultation. Let us work together to create a tailored care plan that ensures safety, comfort, and an active, enriching lifestyle for your loved one.