 *Requires Adobe Acrobat | Le Bleu Chateau Community Service Program |  |
*Requires Adobe Acrobat | Le Bleu Chateau Community Service Program | |
A loss of vision can greatly stress personal relationships with family, friends and caregivers. Many times these stresses sneak in under the radar because vision loss commonly happens over a period of time. This can lead to a lack of understanding of the situation and cause reactions that range from unspoken discomfort, to frustration, to rage.
When a loss of vision is very apparent, the assumptions, expectations and prejudices of those with sight can add strain to relationships. For example, an adult child can become very overprotective of their blind parent and squash their independence. Or the fear of doing (or saying) something wrong can lead to less communication.
These situations can lead to reactions in the person with a vision loss that can be harmful. They may try to fool people into thinking they have enough sight (passing) or avoid social contact (isolation).
When a person is faced with a loss of vision, of course there are physical obstacles that need to be overcome. Something as simple as walking to the dinner table and the process of eating can become a challenging, frustrating, or even scary event.
However, you should also look for mental and emotional issues to arise. Here are some reactions to watch out for.
These emotional responses are often a part of one’s personal process for grieving a “loss”. Over time, they will hopefully reach the acceptance part of this process, utilize the capabilities they still have and make the most of their situation.
There are many, many seniors who lead fulfilling lives while challenged with vision loss. There is no one formula for their success. Yet, there are some common threads that lead to achievement.
