The recent pandemic has highlighted the impact of social isolation on health. District and community nurses are in daily contact with vulnerable, elderly clients for whom the norm is a world with little social contact. This compounds the health inequalities affecting this population. District and community nurses require support to meet the psychological and social needs of these clients. In order to improve the health of older people with long-term conditions, joint action between agencies, voluntary groups and charities is imperative. Inclusive and creative evidence-based interventions could be the public health solution to the emerging crisis in the psychological health of elderly clients with chronic conditions.
There are a number of eye diseases that increase in prevalence in older age, all of which affect vision to varying degrees. Impaired vision can impact significantly on an older person’s quality of life and ability to live independently. This article addresses the most common eye diseases seen in older adults. It discusses risk factors, signs, symptoms as well as treatment and management, with the aim of providing an overview for nurses, thus increasing knowledge, understanding and confidence in this area.
