Caring for Patients who are blind or visually impaired
From: Armed Forces Medicine - 2015

A Fact Sheet for the Inpatient Care Team

This fact sheet is intended to assist all who provide direct inpatient care
to blind or visually impaired Service members or Veterans. The bullets below
suggest best practices for caring for blind and visually impaired Service
members and Veterans while safely maintaining or regaining his or her
independence and quality of life during hospitalization.

Download or view this pdf document at:
http://vce.health.mil/MHSHome/Reference-Center/Fact-Sheets/2015/01/28/Caring-for-Patients-Who-Are-Blind-or-Visually-Impaired-Inpatient

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A Fact Sheet for the Outpatient Care Team

This fact sheet is intended to assist outpatient providers in supporting
patients with visual impairment. Visual impairment may not be obvious. Use of
a white cane or a guide dog is an apparent sign, but some patients who have
remaining vision may only display subtle signs of vision loss such as:
trouble walking safely or inability to find a chair; difficulty finding
identification (ID) cards or inability to read small print; holding items
close to the eyes to see; or not making direct eye contact during
conversation. If you suspect a patient has a visual impairment, ask him or
her. Awareness of these signs can promote a safe, positive and pleasant
experience for the patient and staff.

Download or view this pdf document at:
http://vce.health.mil/MHSHome/Reference-Center/Fact-Sheets/2015/01/28/Caring-for-Patients-Who-Are-Blind-or-Visually-Impaired-Outpatient