Know your numbers

The world is getting older at an unprecedented rate and by 2050; 1.5 billion or 16.3% of the population will be over 65 years old.  Declining birth rates and higher life expectancy will equal elderly outnumbering the young!  Age related sight loss could affect 15% of those over 75 years old and 20% of those over 85.

Essential to local or regional campaigning you need to understand your current population over 50 years old, the projected growth in those over 50 together with the prevalence of age related sight loss in your region.

Go to the Know your numbers section of the resource

Working in partnership

Since vision loss affects so many aspects of life, it is critical to partner with organizations across a spectrum of disabilities and service provision. Aspects of living with vision loss that should be considered are: eye care, reading, independent living and products that enhance independent living, employment, mobility, nutrition, services for families, support services such as meals on wheels, personal care, and transportation.

In forming partnerships consider: organizations working directly with older people, those supporting individual co-morbidities, and those supporting specific aspects of independent living.  Partnerships provide the benefit of shared resources, knowledge and skills, community of interest and the opportunity to deliver more for less.

Go to the Working in partnership section of the resource

Involving elderly blind people

“Nothing about us, without us” was the title of the 2004 International Day of Disabled People.  The motto “Nothing About Us Without Us” relies on the principle of participation, and it has been used by Disabled Peoples Organizations throughout the years as part of the global movement to achieve the full participation and equalization of opportunities for, by and with persons with disabilities.

The active involvement of persons with disabilities is an essential principle that should be followed and is essential if we are to develop a truly inclusive society.  The challenge is to ensure that all voices are heard.

Go to the Involving elderly blind people section of the resource

Awareness training

Most older people experiencing a sight loss are in the ‘older persons’ care system.  Care workers in this sector do not appreciate the importance of sight loss to quality of life and independence.  An important way to address this is through a basic awareness training programme so that they can identify serious sight loss and understand the strategies required to support people to maximise on independence and to enjoy a high quality of life.

We know that many older people do not come forward or seek help when they experience a deterioration in their sight, they just accept failing sight as a consequence of old age and assume that nothing can be done to help them. Most people will retain good levels of residual vision and maximising use of residual vision will always represent the best low cost solution. This example from Australia shows how this important health message can be conveyed in the wider community.

Go to the Awareness training section of the resource

Addressing social isolation

The increased risk of social isolation as a result of partial sight or blindness is undisputed. This is also true for ageing. Consequently social isolation among visually impaired older people is a major issue.

Social support for older adults who lose their vision is a highly relevant topic when looking at the impact of this loss. Next to the availability of a social network, personal skills and accessibility issues, self-esteem is on the basis of staying connected to other people. Visually impaired older people usually think that others should not expect too much from them because of their visual impairment, that they have become dependent on sighted people to do most of the things they used to do by themselves and many feel uncomfortable making new friends because they can not see people’s faces.

Losses related to personal networks can seriously affect people suffering gradual loss of sight. As people grow old, they often find themselves alone, particularly women. When people lose sight at an older age they feel less certain in their environment; they find it more difficult to participate in recreational activities and this is something they notice with respect to relationships with others and their own support network.

Go to the Addressing social isolation section of the resource

Low Cost Low Vision

Age related sight loss does not normally mean total blindness.  Most people will retain good levels of residual vision and maximising on use of residual vision will always represent the best low cost solution.  Low cost interventions can prevent the need for expensive health and social care support, through greater independence, prevention of falls and just by being able to lead a more active life.

Providing a positive psycho-social message.

The first simple element that the older person, losing sight, will require is someone to talk to, someone to listen.  For them it will be a life changing and often a traumatic event.  They will not understand what is happening to their sight, what can be done, who to go to for help.

Go to the Low Cost Low Vision section of the resource