Abstract
Despite mounting evidence of the wider impact of sight loss on health outcomes, there is little information to support the needs of visually impaired older people (Reuben et al, 1999). Older adults with sight loss may face the same losses and decline in health as those who are sighted, but also have to cope with the challenge of sight loss. This struggle is evident as visually impaired older people show more symptoms of depression than sighted people(O'Donnell, 2005). Their sight loss can severely affect quality of life by limiting social interaction, leading to increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Sight loss compounds the factors that increase social isolation in later life, such as living arrangements, poor health, reduced mobility and social networks and limited resources (Victor et al, 2009).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 91-93 |
Journal | Nursing and Residential Care |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |