My 90 yo mother has been slowly losing her vision for years but has been able to function well enough to live alone. Her vision has recently deteriorated to the point where it is no longer safe for her to live alone, so I have convinced her it is time to think about AL.
My question is, does anyone have any experience with moving a blind person into AL? I am sure she can learn to maneuver around her apartment, but will the staff help her get to the dining room/gym/etc.? Alternatively, what questions should I be asking as I am looking at facilities to know they can support her? Most facilities are focused on people with hearing loss, not so much vision loss. Thanks!
He had a talking watch and we used an Alexa to keep up with his schedule. I'd go through the activities sheet and menu at the Assisted Living and update his reminders each week so it would say "It's 3 pm. There will be music in the lobby in 15 minutes.", or "It's 5 pm. Dinner tonight is a choice of spaghetti or fried fish." It took a a bit of time but was totally worth it because you can't expect the staff to get him to all the activities. Assisted living means they need assistance and usually need to ask for it, and my dad wouldn't ask. For some appointments where he couldn't be late - a podiatrist appointment or hair/nail appointment - I'd make special arrangements to have staff come and get him but that was used very sparingly. For most things I'd just have Alexa make a couple of announcements.
The dining room staff learned he couldn't see and would lead him to a table, read him the menus, and would cut his food (after they learned it would help him but they didn't push assistance onto him.) Keep reminding staff that he can't see so giving him notes or calendars is useless. The cleaning and dining staff seemed much more aware of his needs than many of the more senior staff. My dad hid his disability quite well so people didn't "see" him as blind.
My best advice is to teach her to use the Alexa. It's great for entertainment, making phone calls, and keeping your schedule, calendar, and activities up to date. Also, get a talking watch and a talking clock. I'm sure you've seen all the low-vision aids in the catalogs. Some are useful and the watch and clock are essential (and to me, so was Alexa.) But unless she really advocates for herself, she's not going to get a lot a special assistance for being blind.
Also, feel free to PM me with any questions on how we handled any specific issues. He lived at Assisted Living until his death at 102. He walked the halls, used the elevator, went to meals, etc by himself until about the last 2 years when I paid extra for a private aide each afternoon to assist him with getting to activities, extra housekeeping to keep things neat and tidy, and to keep him socialized. She would get him down to dinner and then leave but she had one of her friends make certain he got back to his room after dinner.
Of course there are also ADA guidelines and rules all facilities must adhere to, so be sure to bring that up when talking to them.
Suggestions of questions to ask:
1. What experience do you have with visually impaired residents?
2. How does the staff assist blind residents with daily activities (e.g. meals, mobility, personal care)?
3. Are staff trained in communicating effectively with blind residents?
4. Are there tactile or audible cues for navigating the facility, such as raised markings or talking elevators?
5. How are hallways and common areas designed to support those with vision impairments (e.g. clear pathways, contrasting colors)?
6. Are emergency procedures adapted for blind residents and how are they alerted in emergencies?
7. Do you offer orientation sessions to help new residents learn the layout of the facility?
8. Is there mobility training available, either through the facility or outside resources?
9. Are there activities or programs accessible to blind residents, such as audio books, music, or sensory activities?
10. How do you ensure visually impaired residents can participate fully in social events and community activities?
11. Do you provide or support the use of assistive technology, like screen readers or audio devices?
12. Is printed material, such as menus and schedules, available in accessible formats (e.g., large print, Braille, or audio)?
13. How do you assist blind residents with meals, such as identifying food or navigating the dining room?
14. Are there strategies in place to help residents maintain as much independence as possible?
15. How are medications managed for blind residents to ensure safety and accuracy?
16. What is the protocol if a resident needs immediate assistance, and how do you make it accessible?
I hope this helps you find the right place for your Mom.
As you said, she is able to do many things herself. She will be needing more adjustment time, but once oriented she should do well. I would highly recommend one built on the cottage principle much like the one my brother was in in Palm Springs (Pacifica Senior Living) as it is a small place, with approximately 14 rooms built around a central area dedicated to entertainment room, small kitchenette, dining room. Front and back patio. Very senior friendly to being either in your room or out of it. They have a Facebook page if you are interested in looking around, and a web page as well, for what I mean.
Your mom would face the same qualifications any senior would; for her abilities and limitations, for her level of care, for her MD assessment.
I truly wish you good luck.
If you don’t get too far, I would find a web site for the blind (I am quite sure that there will be at least one), and ask for their suggestions. However they might not be local. Good luck!
If this community does not have something like that you could ask that she be paired with someone or a staff person the first few weeks to get her used to the surroundings.
Does mom use Brail? If so ALL the signs in the building should have Brail signs as well. (unless we have gone that far in doing away with DEI, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)