Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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My father (58) will be blind soon. How to best help him cope with this transition? Any technology recommendations to purchase for his entertainment / assist in dealing with his loneliness? (self.Blind)
submitted by BumpinVinyl
As the title states, my father has been blind in his right eye since this past September (macular degenerative hole in eye, gas bubble surgery didn’t take), and has had capillaries lasered in his left eye three times now. Two weeks ago he had a defibrillator installed to help with his heart. Since this surgery the eyesight in his left eye has worsened to the point he awoke this past Friday and could no longer see (except for some light which appeared bloody. I immediately ran him to eye surgeon for a checkup, along with a follow-up today. Right eye gone, and left eye sure to come as it seems he is experiencing rental detachment. Fortunately he was referred to a nearby surgeon; pre op on Monday, surgery on Wednesday.
I am hopeful the surgery goes well and prolongs his eyesight, but either way he will be blind during recovery due to bandages over his only working eye. I also feel it may be inevitable that he loses his eyesight this year no matter what we may try.
My father currently resides alone as his wife of 21 years unexpectedly passed away this past July. I relocated from out of state to be near him (live about 30 minutes away), and am terrified of him losing this last piece of independence remaining. Therein lies my questions:
- He doesn’t want to move or sell him home (as that’s where his memories are). I can respect that, but he will need home nurse / healthcare soon. Recommendations?
- Thoughts on taking him to a support group?
- Any technology I can buy to help entertain him or keep him feeling less lonely? He has an iPhone, and I thought about buying him a HomePod.
- He currently doesn’t have internet at home, only a hotspot and his cell. Noticed at&t offers up to 10Mb down WiFi where he lives, planning to secure that. One complete, thoughts on home security options or ring doorbell to help him feel more secure?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I am hopeful the surgery goes well and prolongs his eyesight, but either way he will be blind during recovery due to bandages over his only working eye. I also feel it may be inevitable that he loses his eyesight this year no matter what we may try.
My father currently resides alone as his wife of 21 years unexpectedly passed away this past July. I relocated from out of state to be near him (live about 30 minutes away), and am terrified of him losing this last piece of independence remaining. Therein lies my questions:
- He doesn’t want to move or sell him home (as that’s where his memories are). I can respect that, but he will need home nurse / healthcare soon. Recommendations?
- Thoughts on taking him to a support group?
- Any technology I can buy to help entertain him or keep him feeling less lonely? He has an iPhone, and I thought about buying him a HomePod.
- He currently doesn’t have internet at home, only a hotspot and his cell. Noticed at&t offers up to 10Mb down WiFi where he lives, planning to secure that. One complete, thoughts on home security options or ring doorbell to help him feel more secure?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
sarahluvsjoy 3 points 4y ago
I work for a low vision specialist and we always recommend that the caregiver learn the technology first to make it easier to assist and explain! Great advice u/vwlsmssng \- We recently attended an assistive technology conference in Anaheim called CSUN which mainly focused on new accessibility tech for visually impaired. Google and Amazon are really trying to step up their accessibility features for Alexa and Google home so maybe check into these products for making his home more manageable for maintaining independence.
Maybe check out Orcam as well?
Maybe check out Orcam as well?
vwlsmssng 3 points 4y ago
My experience of helping VI people is that if I learn to use the assistive technology first I can teach it better. Secondly when anyone needs help I use their device in the same way they do. This way I learn more myself and I understand better what compromises and limits the main user faces.
He has an iPhone so you will both need to learn to use Voiceover. Expect it to take at least 3 months of learning, practice and use. The rewards are worth it.
There are two apps for the iPhone that are potentially very useful. Seeing AI (by Microsoft) will recognise faces, read text out loud and identify products by the bar-code
The next priority, I would suggest, is a talking microwave oven. I can't recommend any to you as I'm not from the USA. A "40 minutes is not 40 seconds" near disaster with a traditional microwave is what prompted the use of a talking machine here.
My main point is that the earlier you start the better for learning Voiceover, any helpful apps, and devices. Especially when dealing with older people.
He has an iPhone so you will both need to learn to use Voiceover. Expect it to take at least 3 months of learning, practice and use. The rewards are worth it.
There are two apps for the iPhone that are potentially very useful. Seeing AI (by Microsoft) will recognise faces, read text out loud and identify products by the bar-code
The next priority, I would suggest, is a talking microwave oven. I can't recommend any to you as I'm not from the USA. A "40 minutes is not 40 seconds" near disaster with a traditional microwave is what prompted the use of a talking machine here.
My main point is that the earlier you start the better for learning Voiceover, any helpful apps, and devices. Especially when dealing with older people.
[deleted] 1 points 4y ago
Like everyone, I have a similar but different situation for my mother who is 92 now. Mac Degeneration has reduced her vision to a major degree. Since my father is her caretaker at 94 we are unable to figure out how bad her vision is. Several years ago the siblings bought an Ipad and stupidly expected her to learn how to use it with limited vision and limited assistance. Given the rapidly changing personal assistant world, alexa, siri, google etc. I believe we need to hire a low vision specialist who can help with making the choices given the confusing array of possibilities.
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Will be posting this as a question later but for now will just be a comment here. Who can we contract with to help make these adaptation choices most effectively? Are there people with current knowledge of tech, social, daily living skills and equipment that do house calls? Seems like given the time constraints we have, there is no room for major mistakes when it comes to best solutions.
​
Will be posting this as a question later but for now will just be a comment here. Who can we contract with to help make these adaptation choices most effectively? Are there people with current knowledge of tech, social, daily living skills and equipment that do house calls? Seems like given the time constraints we have, there is no room for major mistakes when it comes to best solutions.
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