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 is visually impaired walk the NA should?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.
What is the best way for a nursing assistant to help a resident to walk?Once you are certain the patient is steady, provide a cane or walker. The patient should hold a cane using their strong side. Assist the person to walk by standing slightly behind the patient on their weaker side and holding the transfer belt using an underhanded grip.
Which part of the residents body should the NA exercise first?Which parts of the body should be exercised first? The NA should begin at the resident's head and wrk down the body. The upper extremities (arms) should be exercised before the lower extremities (legs).
What is a proper way for a nursing assistant NA to respond if a resident does not hear her or does not understand her?What is a proper way for a nursing assistant to respond if a resident does not hear her or does not understand her? Face the resident and speak clearly.
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