Visual disorders as a risk factor for elderly people's autonomy
Jiménez Navascués L., Hijar Ordovas C.A.

SUMMARY

Introduction: Demographic aging is a fact in developed countries, giving rise to new social needs in the group of population older than 65. In order to meet these needs, more gerontologic centers (both social and sanitary) are being created.

Purpose: To determine whether visual disorders have an effect on the autonomy of the inmates in an elderly people's residence.

Methods: A descriptive crosssectional study of the valid residents. Descriptive statistical analysis of socio-demographic variable, scales of functional valuation (Barthel, Lawton, etc.) and variables of ophthalmologic injuries

Conclusions: Visual disorders have an influence on the autonomy of people. We observed the older the age, the greater the degree of dependency for the activities of the daily life; the most frequent ocular pathology susceptible to be treated is cataract. Specific optical aids for the problems of impaired vision are not commonly used.

KEY WORDS

    Dependency, activities of the daily life, visual change, autonomy, elder, geriatric center.

Vol. 18 nº1-2007