Keywords

vision impairment, hearing loss, long-term care, nursing care

Abstract

Purpose: This paper is to synthesizes evidence from a literature review and information from experts in sensory impairment. Evidence-based recommendations were compiled to improve nursing care of older adults in long-term care settings who are living with sensory impairments.

Background: The terms “vision Impairment” (VI) and “hearing loss” (HL) describe difficulty in accomplishing activities of daily living (ADL’S), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL’s) or other functions because of the inability to see or hear well. VI and HL are highly prevalent among older adults and are increasing as the population ages. 25% of adults age 80 and older experience VI and over 50% of adults age 65 and older experience HL. Both VI and HL are associated with depression, social isolation, low quality of life, loss of independence, and cognitive decline. Few nurses are aware of the impact of sensory impairments or of ways to enhance nursing care of patients with VI and HL who reside in LTC settings.

Method: A search for current, peer-reviewed articles published between 2006-2021 was performed using CINAHL Complete, Medline, PubMed and The Cochrane Library. Twenty-nine articles met inclusion criteria and were utilized in this literature review. In addition, three experts were interviewed, including a certified occupational therapist’s assistant who specializes in geriatrics, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in older adults with sensory impairment, and a rehabilitation sensory impairment specialist, whose recommendations are also included.

Results: Sensory impairments are up to 15 times more common in LTC settings than among community dwelling older adults. VI and HL have a high impact on quality of life and functioning among older residents of LTC. Stigma and lack of knowledge among nurses is a barrier to proper care. Many simple and low-cost techniques are available and proven to help mitigate the impact of VI and HL.

Recommendations: Recommendations to accommodate VI, HL and dual sensory impairment (DSI) fall into two categories. First, environment modifications to enhance access and independence; second, behavioral strategies to enhance access and improve communication.