![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research was to describe the strategies that older adults with low vision use to support daily living. A descriptive qualitative study of 10 older adults with low vision was conducted using semistructured, audio-recorded interviews. The data was coded and grouped into categories, and the findings were summarized. Four major themes were identified: (a) device nonuse; (b) sensory strategies and devices; (c) environmental strategies; and (d) resourcefulness. Older adults with low vision try many devices and strategies to find the ones that allow them to participate in meaningful activity within their physical and social environment. These findings support the use of a client-centered, multicomponent, problem-solving approach to low vision rehabilitation to maximize performance of daily activity despite declining vision.
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by a University of South Dakota Health Sciences Seed Grant. The authors would also like to acknowledge Kaitlin LaPlant, who assisted with minor editing of this manuscript.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
About the authors
Stacy Smallfield, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Sue Berger, Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Sargent College, Boston, MA, USA; Brooke Hillman, Aegis Therapies, Sioux Falls, SD, USA; Paige Saltzgaber, Central Nebraska Rehabilitation Services, Grand Island, NE, USA; Jarod Giger, College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Jennifer Kaldenberg, Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston, MA, USA.