If you are caring for your elderly loved one, it is a good idea to have them regularly see their eye doctor. In addition, you should learn what you can about eye health in the elderly. One of the things that is important to know is that senior citizens should do eye exercises daily. It can help to prevent eye diseases, improve eye health, and potentially improve or maintain their vision, as well. The eye exercises noted here today are the most common and most beneficial for senior citizens.
Eye Tracing
One of the best eye exercises for the elderly to do every day is eye tracing. This is an exercise that can be done in a variety of ways. However, the basics are this:
- Do it at varying speeds (ex. Start slowly and then pick up the speed)
- Do this exercise daily
- Complete the exercise for 3 to 7 minutes at a time
- Place the eyes on an object and then trace the line of vision around that object
If you or senior home care providers help your elderly loved one to do eye tracing, it could significantly reduce their risk of developing eye health diseases. It can greatly improve or at the very least help to maintain their vision.
Blinking Exercises
Another eye exercise for the elderly is blinking. Yes, this may seem odd since everyone blinks. However, when someone does it as an exercise, they will be blinking more and it can help to relax, strengthen, and lubricate the eyes. The best tips for blinking exercises in senior citizens are:
- Start by closing the eyes for 15 seconds
- Then blink 15 to 20 times lightly and quickly
- Close the eyes again for 15 seconds
- Blink 20 to 30 times a little faster
- Close the eyes one last time for 15 seconds
You should encourage your elderly loved one to do blinking exercises multiple times a day. At the very minimum, having them do these exercises once a day can be enough to prevent eye diseases and maintain vision.
Focusing Near and Far
Last, but not least, senior citizens should practice focusing near and far on a daily basis. By doing this, it can help to improve your elderly loved one’s ability to focus on objects at varied distances. They could do this exercise wherever they are at. For example, if they are riding in the car while you or a companion care at home provider takes them to the grocery store or while they are waiting for their favorite television show to begin, it could help their vision. The purpose behind focusing near and far is to keep the eyesight strong when looking at things close by and further away. Unfortunately, senior citizens that don’t practice this exercise regularly often have weaker vision in either or both seeing close up and/or further away.
Conclusion
These are a few eye exercises that your elderly loved one can do every day. If your elderly loved one isn’t going to remember to do these exercises, it would be a good idea for you to remind them. The more days in a row they do these exercises, the more they could benefit their eyesight and eye health.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care in Verona, WI please contact the caring staff at Agape Senior Services Madison today. (608) 841-1004
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-and-your-eyes
