Glaucoma can lead to the loss of eyesight in seniors and is caused by increasing pressure inside the eye that distorts vision. It’s one of the many health conditions your loved one may be susceptible to. Although there’s no cure for glaucoma, your elderly loved one can take a few steps to protect his or her eyesight and prevent glaucoma from developing or progressing.
1. Wear Eye Protection
Serious eye injuries often lead to glaucoma, which is why your loved one will need to protect his or her eyes each day. Encourage your loved one to wear safety glasses, especially when going to areas with heavy traffic, while playing sports, or doing any type of activity where his or her eyes could become injured.
Your loved one should also wear hats to shield his or her eyes from the sun. Keeping UV rays away from the eyes can prevent glaucoma.
2. Get Plenty of Exercise
Regular exercise can help seniors lower their eye pressure. Your loved one may have to avoid exercises that require being in inverted positions because that can increase eye pressure. Moderate exercise routines are often effective for seniors. A simple walk or jog through the neighborhood at least three times a week can lower eye pressure and prevent glaucoma.
If your loved one needs help with exercising safely, a professional caregiver can be a wonderful resource. Home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
3. Take Eye Drop Medication
Taking prescribed medication can prevent glaucoma from progressing. For the eye drops to be effective, your loved one will need to take them regularly as directed by a doctor. Seniors with arthritis or hand tremors may face difficulty taking these drops, which is why a family caregiver should help with the process. Missing even one dosage could cause the eye drops to become ineffective. Eye drops can be prescribed to your loved one even if she doesn’t have symptoms of glaucoma.
4. Maintain Normal Blood Pressure & Insulin Levels
By maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, your loved one can prevent glaucoma. When insulin levels rise, blood pressure will also rise, causing eye pressure to increase. Insulin resistance is linked to elevated eye pressure, one of the main causes of glaucoma. To prevent insulin resistance and high blood pressure, your loved one should avoid eating sugars and grains. The following foods should be eaten in small quantities or avoided altogether:
- Cereal
- Bread
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Pasta
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. Montgomery families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
5. Attend Regular Doctor Visits
Scheduling comprehensive eye exams every two years after the age of 65 is a great way to prevent glaucoma. It’s beneficial to schedule these exams every four years before turning 65. A comprehensive eye exam allows the doctor to detect glaucoma in its early stages and treat the disease before it becomes irreversible. If your loved one is at high risk for developing glaucoma, he or she should have more frequent screenings. A doctor can suggest a screening schedule based on your loved one’s health and family history.
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Montgomery, AL, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. Trust Home Care Assistance to provide high-quality compassionate professional care for your loved one. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (334) 593-3988.