by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Contributor:
Many organizations observe National Family Caregivers Month in November, which honors caregivers’ contributions to improving the lives of loved ones with disabilities, chronic illnesses and other conditions. Various materials have been released to help caregivers of people with vision loss as they navigate its attendant challenges. Specifically, a partnership between Prevent Blindness and Regeneron called the Gr8 Eye Movement which encourages people to “use the eighth of every month to check in on your eye health,” provides practical reminders for caregivers of older adults with retinal diseases. These include: “find resilience,” “celebrate the victories,” “always listen,” “be an extra set of eyes and ears,” “monitor vision,” and “motivate and encourage.” This resource also defines common retinal conditions, i.e., wet age-related macular degeneration (WAMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The Gr8 Eye Movement also launched another campaign, inspired by survey results, which showed caregivers have a “lack of awareness of retinal diseases.” Results from a “national survey of at-risk adults and their loved ones show a significant gap in caregivers’ understanding of retinal conditions. According to the data, almost 80% of caregivers mistakenly view vision loss as an inevitable part of aging, and fewer than 30% are aware of both WAMD and diabetic retinal diseases DME and DR.” Prevent Blindness CEO Jeff Todd stated: “‘The misperception that vision loss is an inevitable part of aging can lead caregivers to overlook signs of serious retinal diseases that may be treatable. That’s why it’s so important to educate the public, and for those at risk for retinal diseases and their caregivers, to prioritize eye health. By monitoring for eye health changes and being vigilant about getting our eyes and our vision checked regularly, caregivers can help protect their loved ones from preventable vision loss and help to maintain a high quality of life.’” The campaign was also covered in The Ophthalmology Times.
