Functional Impairment and Visual Loss

Abstract

An 87-year-old woman, recently lost her husband of 65 years, moved in with her daughter in a town 100 miles from where she had lived for the past 60 years. Her daughter was aware of her mother’s poor vision knowing her mother had been diagnosed with macular degeneration several years earlier. She knew her father had to read recipes to her when the print was small but also knew her mother prepared meals, used the stove, microwave, dishwasher, and other appliances with no difficulty. She kept her mind active listening to the news, talking with friends, and having lunch out of her home with her husband and friends at least twice a week. Also she knew her mother had cared for her father during his final months of life at home. Her mother was hesitant to move in with her daughter as she did not want to be a burden to her and was quite comfortable in her own home. She had friends who offered to take her shopping and out to socialize. Her daughter prevailed and her mother sold her home and moved in. At first things seemed to be going well but soon, when her daughter returned to work, her mother was left alone in the house. She burnt some food in the microwave oven, thinking she had set it for only 40 seconds but later found out it was for 2 minutes. When using the stove she set the temperature too high and forgot to shut off the gas burner. She was unable to get the television channel she so liked and gave up watching her show. Over a short time she had withdrawn from family activities, seemed to be losing weight, and seemed to be depressed. Her daughter brought her to see her doctor who specialized in geriatrics and her ophthalmologist to see if her mother’s vision had deteriorated.