Community Eye Health. 2003; 16(45): 7–9. As eye health workers, we give much attention to learning and teaching the importance of health education and the prevention and treatment of eye disease. Despite our gained knowledge, sadly, our efforts are not always successful and we are presented with the responsibility and challenge of caring for people
who have to cope with visual impairment, perhaps for the rest of their lives. We have to understand their difficulties, recognise their abilities and learn how to cooperate and communicate with them in a social as well as hospital environment. It is often within the eye hospital itself that the lack in education of health workers and their understanding of the assistance needs of blind and visually impaired patients is all too evident. Visually impaired and blind people come from
all kinds of backgrounds. Many are elderly, some are young. They may be sportsmen and women, gardeners, farmers, chess players, teachers, typists, musicians, lawyers, housewives, computer programmers, physiotherapists, social workers, telephonists, parents…… Such people have many abilities and can achieve many things despite visual impairment or blindness, but there are times when they will appreciate and welcome practical assistance. There are some general points to remember, which are really common sense and a matter of courtesy:
Approach and Attitude
Guiding (Fig. 2)
Walking in Single File or in Narrow Spaces (e.g., in shops, offices and busy crowded areas) (Fig. 3)
Doorways (Fig. 4)
Steps, Stairs and Slopes (Fig. 5)
Kerbs and Roads (Fig. 6)
Seating (Fig. 7)
Travelling (Fig. 8)
In the Eye Hospital
Eye health workers have a responsibility, and an important position, for teaching others about assistance to the visually impaired. But we must be seen to be practising what we teach. A community-based rehabilitation project in Uganda, some years ago, used a very appropriate and challenging means of raising awareness. They provided T shirts for the project team members with illustrations and slogans which read, ‘Don't pull me’ (front – see Fig. 9) and ‘Walk with me’ (back – see Fig. 10). Can you think of similar activities, perhaps? Acknowledgements
Articles from Community Eye Health are provided here courtesy of International Centre for Eye Health When helping a resident who has a visual impairment to walk it is important for the nursing assistant to?Where should the NA be when helping a resident who has a visual impairment to walk? The NA should be beside and slightly in front of the resident.
When assisting a blind resident to walk you should?Cards
When assisting a visually impaired resident with ambulation Where does the CNA walk?Cards
When entering the room of a resident who is visually impaired it is important to?Immediately greet the person when they enter a room or a service area. This allows you to let them know you are present and ready to assist. And, it eliminates uncomfortable silences. Indicate the end of a conversation to avoid the embarrassment of leaving a person speaking when no one is actually there.
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