Why Caregiving is Important for Seniors with Glaucoma

Why Caregiving is Important for Seniors with Glaucoma

A smiling caregiver speaking with an elderly woman with senior eye health issues.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Here at Family Tree In-Home Care, our staff is taking the time to reflect on the condition to have a better understanding of what it entails. With more than 3 million Americans affected, National Glaucoma Awareness Month is the perfect period to research the disease and its impact on seniors who tend to be the most vulnerable. Caregiving is one of the critical factors to consider while discussing glaucoma since, in most cases, caregivers take up the role of seeing that seniors continue to live a fulfilling life. But before delving into the roles of caregivers, what is glaucoma, and what are its causes?

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerves, which carries information from the eyes to the brain. It is the second leading cause of blindness among people over 60 years of age. It tends to happen gradually in a way that one might fail to notice until it has reached an advanced stage.

Causes  

  • High eye pressure
  • Suffering an eye injury
  • Having health conditions such as diabetes and migraines
  • Age
  • Family history of glaucoma

Senior eye health is an issue of concern for those whose parents or loved ones suffer from glaucoma. This is where caregivers come in. With their expertise in handling such cases, they are best placed to take care of our seniors in a way that we cannot. Some of their roles include:

Provide personal care    

Seniors who have glaucoma can have a hard time performing tasks that they did with ease before. However, caregivers can provide personalized care where they can assist them in completing these tasks as they ensure that they lead healthy lives.

Hospital-to-home transition care  

This involves senior transportation from hospitals to their homes, helping with medications and doctors’ appointments, and generally preventing readmissions due to avoidable mistakes. With one in five seniors readmitted a month after discharge, the role of caregivers cannot be overstated.

Act as companions

Taking care of seniors can be difficult since it requires some background on how to handle them with care, another reason we recommend  the help of caregivers. With their advanced knowledge and expertise, they are in a better position to take care of them any time of the day.

Since glaucoma is a common occurrence at old age, we do our best to take care of seniors who have the condition live life efficiently. Family Tree In-Home Care is a preferable choice for anyone who wants to give quality care to their loved ones in the comfort of their homes. You don’t have to look any further, contact us to learn more about us and what we offer.