Monica Perlmutter is taking her “show on the road” to help older adults with low vision live independently in their homes.
“Many individuals with low vision are doing well in terms of their overall physical health,” says Perlmutter, an occupational therapist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “But problems arise when low vision makes it difficult to judge depth of steps, pay bills or distinguish where food is on a plate.”
Nearly 4 million adults age 65 and older have visual impairment severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, inoperable cataracts and glaucoma are leading causes of low vision.
Armed with a note pad and light meter, Perlmutter arrives for home visits ready to assess and offer suggestions to maximize vision and safety. The first visit, which usually lasts an hour, includes a structured interview to determine what is important to the individual. The home environment is also checked for accessibility, lighting and safety.
Clients are seen for an average of 2-3 additional visits. Adaptive strategies and home environment modifications are tailored to meet the individual’s specific needs. Perlmutter says, “One person may need help in the kitchen operating the stove while another may be concerned that they can no longer pay their bills or play bridge.”
To increase the visibility of the stovetop and oven controls, Perlmutter marks the appliance controls with brightly colored raised dots. Use of a large print checkbook, bold markers and proper lighting promotes greater independence in managing personal finances. Large face playing cards and a contrasting background on the card table allows older adults to participate in their weekly bridge game. Similar strategies are used for other self-care, home management and leisure tasks, so that individuals are able to return to these valued daily activities.
Medicare and other insurance plans typically approve the Occupational Therapy In-home and Community Home Services program for persons with low vision with a physician referral. For more information on this program, call the Washington University Program in Occupational Therapy at 314-286-1635.
Washington University School of Medicine’s full-time and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the nation, currently ranked third in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.