You are preparing to discharge a patient home. During your discharge teaching you realize that the patient is not able to read the medication bottles and has not been taking her medications at home

Question

How would you intervene appropriately in this situation?
A) By asking the social worker to investigate nursing home placement
B) By asking the social worker to investigate community support agencies
C) By informing that patient that surgery will correct the vision problem
D) By informing the patient that she will need to go to a rehabilitation facility for vision training

Answer 1

Ans: B

Feedback: Managing low vision involves magnification and image enhancement through the use of low-vision aids and strategies and referrals to social services and community agencies serving those with visual impairment. Community agencies, such as the Lighthouse National Center for Vision and Aging, offer services to low-vision patients that include training in independent living skills and a variety of assistive devices for vision enhancement, orientation, and mobility, preventing patients from needing to enter a nursing facility. A rehabilitation facility is generally not needed by the patients to learn to use the assistive devices or gain a greater degree of independence. Surgery is also generally not a necessary component to independent living for this group of patients.