Reply to Rapid decrease in mom’s vision- what now?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There are services that help people with low vision adjust to their declining condition. Im sure her providers have referred her. Life will look different for her due to this decline. But depending on how she adjusts, she may be able to stay put. If she’s open to discussing, I’d be asking about this so you can ease your mind.

I have a nephew and a SIL who have low vision which continues to decline. Driving is out of the question and they don’t live in a metropolitan area with good public transportation. It’s impressive to watch them learn to navigate their ever changing reality. I also have a colleague who lost his vision gradually over a period of about a decade. He lives in this area. I will say it is much easier for him because of services like metro access. He continued to work long after his vision deteriorated to the point of not being able to drive. My point is that many people remain functional and that might be where you want to focus some energy. [/quote]

I agree with this 100% and I can speak to it personally. I am younger but I have macular degeneration and have dealt with a somewhat rapid decline in vision myself. There are providers who specialize in low vision aids. She can take an Uber/Lyft since driving is out of the question. It may seem really bleak but there are so many tools and options for the visually impaired these days. It’s kind of shocking to face it at first - believe me - but her life is not over nor does she necessarily need to be helped/cared for like someone with a different conditions would be. [/quote]

Thank you for this. I’m the OP and I am waiting on my genetic testing results and part of me is very worried about how I will handle macular degeneration should I have it in the future. You give me a lot of hope.

I think the big problem with my mom will be less the loss of vision than the concurrent decline of her physical/mental health in general. The fact that she has been so secretive about this for so long and lied about a bunch of other stuff tells me that there is some mental stuff bubbling up that is making it harder for her to be independent.[/quote]

I’m the PP and I have macular degeneration that is hereditary but not age-related. For me, it started in my late 30s and declined pretty rapidly from there, so it’s a bit different from your mom because cognitively I am still 100% there. For me, the biggest loss of my independence is that I’m limited in driving. I rely heavily on my spouse and Uber/Lyft to get around. Otherwise, like I said, the accessibility tools are great and your mom should look into getting bigger screens/monitors and using the settings that invert colors. It helps a ton. I also have an Apple Watch and that is a great tool like another poster mentioned. I would maybe also get her an iPad if she doesn’t already have one. I

Getting the genetic testing and being aware of changes in your vision is really smart. If I can give you any advice - wear sunglasses religiously outdoors and do not smoke. Those two things are huge for preserving your vision.

Wrt your mom’s secrecy, on the vision loss alone j can somewhat understand. It’s almost embarrassing (if that makes sense) to admit that you can’t see. So much of the world is visual. I do almost feel like a little kid sometimes having to ask for assistance to read menus and the like, but I think once she can adapt to the new normal and actually accept it she may come around. It’s basically a grieving process for the life you once had. But again, I think she can live quite independently if she can use the options at her disposal to make daily life easier.

I wish you all the best! [/quote]

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