If you're a nursing home employee, it's important to ensure that the patient is receiving the care they need. Often, seniors who are visually impaired are introduced to unfamiliar persons who fail to cater to their unique vision problems, leading to impaired safety and miscommunication. This is a guide to caring for the visually impaired, and keeping them as happy as possible.

Understanding the Problem

Nursing home employees, nurses, and doctors will often encounter seniors who have severe vision problems. Some seniors may even be completely blind. It's best to first imagine what it would be like if someone took your vision away, and approach your care from this position. If you were visually impaired and residing in a nursing home, you can only imagine how frustrating it would be if someone came into your room unannounced, began drawing blood or dispensing medication with little conversation, and then left the room without you even realizing it. These types of scenarios occur everyday, and lead to anxiety, confusion, and even fear for those who have vision problems.

Provide Regular Contact, Clear Dialogue and Specialized Care

Many seniors living in nursing homes with vision issues seek voices they know and feel comfortable with. That means trying to use staff that have regular contact with the nursing home resident. Here are some tips that can help create a comfortable and welcoming environment:

• If you enter a room, be sure to knock on the door before entering and quickly introduce yourself.
• Establish a rapport with the nursing home resident. A bit of friendly conversation can go a long way to help a senior with vision impairment both physically and psychologically.
• Explain what you're going to do before you actually do it. For example, if you're going to take blood pressure, first explain that you're going to use a blood pressure cuff on the left arm, and then perform the action.
• If you're leaving food, medicine, or water for the nursing home resident, let them know the exact location of it, so they can easily access it, even if you're placing it right next to them. Also explain where different foods are on a plate using clock measurements. For example, explain that the meat portion is in the 3 o'clock position on the tray.
• Explain the layout of new rooms, including obstacles, furniture locations, and where any call buttons or emergency buttons are located. Be sure to always let your resident know where the nearest bathroom is.
• Place call signals, phone, and other necessities near the nursing home resident and let them know where they are.
• Always tell a resident before you leave a room.
• Read all necessary written materials out loud to your resident.
• When walking with a resident, always warn them of steps, turns, and other obstacles in advance.

As you can see, there's much you can do to make a nursing home resident with vision impairment feel more comfortable and safe. Ultimately, these tips can go a long way to helping seniors with vision impairment get the most out of their nursing home, such as Beth Sholom Home Of Virginia, experience.

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