Visual impairment among older adults is a significant health problem. The Centers for Disease Control reports that between now and the year 2020, low vision and blindness will double throughout the United States, increasing to epidemic proportions. A large part of this increase can be attributed to the aging of the U. S. population. More than two-thirds of visually impaired adults are over the age of 65. As of 1999, almost 34 million persons in the United States were 65 years of age or older; that number is also expected to more than double by 2030. As the population of older adults grows larger, the number of people with visual impairment that will significantly impair their ability to complete daily living activities and impact their quality of life will increase. The National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute-sponsored Eye Disease Prevalence Study Group (Archives Ophthalmology, 2004) reports that today, people 80 years of age and older make up only 8 percent of the population. However, this group also comprises 69 percent of all cases of blindness. As today’s baby boomer generation becomes the largest senior group in history, age-related vision loss will correspondingly increase. In older adults, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss, with other eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy also contributing to visual impairment. Left untreated, visual impairment leads to physical handicap, increased incidence of falls, depression, social isolation and dependency. These statistics suggest the need for medical and rehabilitation professionals to increase their presence in the field of vision rehabilitation.
Several education sessions at Envision Conference 2011 address the topic of age-related vision loss and the potential for rehabilitation, including:
Addressing Health Literacy in Older Adults with Low Vision. Mary Warren, MS, OTR/L SCLV, FAOTA. Lecture, case example and demonstration are used to educate the participant in the importance of promoting adequate health literacy skills to prevent further vision loss in older adults with age-related eye disease and how to modify written communications to ensure they are visible and readable for persons with low vision.
Pearls from Challenging Geriatric LVR Cases. Donald Fletcher, MD. Several challenging cases of geriatric visual impairment will be presented and discussed to illustrate some of the issues that can complicate rehabilitation. Issues of variation in visual function parameters as well as personalities and lifestyles will be considered. Audience participation will be encouraged.
Depression and Dementia: Managing Common Comorbidities in Vision Rehabilitation. Patricia Grant, Kara Crumbliss, OD, David Rakofsky, PsyD and Alfred Rosenbloom Jr, OD. Depression and Dementia are prevalent in patients undergoing vision rehabilitation. Subtle case presentation may not be identified by the low vision practitioner. Research has shown that effective identification and management of these comorbidities is important to successful vision rehabilitation outcomes. This presentation will provide an overview of the medical literature indications about memory lapses, depression, mild and advanced cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's disease. Clinical tests for diagnosis will be reviewed. Psychologic and research perspectives on the management and indications for advanced treatment will be discussed in the context of illustrative cases involving clinical diagnostic findings and management options.
Special Considerations for the Oldest Patients in Low Vision Rehabilitation. Jennifer Gendeman, OTD, Lauren Nisbet, OT and Kimberly Schoessow, OTD. This presentation will explore unique factors affecting uptake of vision rehabilitation by the oldest of the old including personal and environmental barriers associated with aging. Residential options for the elderly will be discussed. Data will demonstrate how changing an OT model in one clinic enhanced rehabilitation for the oldest old.
Check the Envision Conference website Sessions & Events page to review the complete educational program.
Register Today. Envision Conference 2011 will take place September 21-24 in St. Louis, Missouri. To register or learn more about Envision Conference visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.
