Untreated Vision Loss Devastating for Alzheimer's Patients
It is not something you would immediately think of as a major
problem associated with Alzheimer's Disease, but according to a new
study by researchers at the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association,
improperly treated visual impairment can dramatically worsen the impact
of Alzheimer's on a person's quality of life and the level of
effort needed to care for them.
The study's authors observed 85 Alzheimer's patients
living in facilities the researchers said were typical of nursing homes
nationwide. Of the 85 studied, 80 needed eyeglasses, but of that number
25 had not used any form of vision correction since entering the nursing
home. Reasons for this included lost or damaged glasses, prescriptions that
were no longer effective, and dementia so severe the patient could not ask
for glasses.
The researchers pointed out, not only does bad eyesight lead
to falls and limit the patients mobility, it also deprives them of visual
stimulation. The benefits of being able to watch TV, read, and relate to
others are all inhibited by bad vision. This can have a dramatic effect
on an Alzheimer's patient's quality of life.
The researchers made three simple suggestions for reducing
the impact of visual impairment on Alzheimer's patients:
- Get your loved one annual or biannual vision checks;
- Purchase an extra pair of glasses for them as a backup;
and
- Label their glasses with their name to avoid mixing them
up with other patients' glasses or losing them.
Source: WebMD, 7-22-05
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