Using technology for more independence with impaired vision

Jean has impaired vision, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be independent. With the help of a Google Smart Home device, she has overcome many challenges.

Life took an unexpected turn when Jean, an 87-year-old Feros Care client, started to lose her vision. After seeking medical help, it was revealed that she was experiencing the early signs of a macular degeneration condition – age-related blindness.

Everything in Jean’s life changed when she lost her vision.

“I was living in Victoria, and when I gradually started losing my eyesight, I had to move away from the countryside because it was so remote, and I became dependent on other people,” she says.

Having to rely on others was challenging for Jean who strives to do as much by herself as possible.

“I dislike asking people to do something for me. I like to do things by myself.”

Today, she lives on her own in a house she shares with her dog, and one of her daughters lives five minutes away.

From darkness to light with Feros Care

Living with blindness takes its toll. When Jean is very close to an object, she can see some detail however with even the slightest bit of distance, she can only recognise the overall shape.

This is especially challenging at night time if she walks into a poorly lit room, as potential fall hazards become virtually impossible to identify.

After learning about Feros Care’s Google Smart Home service, Jean was excited. She recalls, “I had a flyer in the mail, saying Feros offered some kind of technology that can help to make things easier in life. That sounded wonderful. I talked with my daughter about it who signed me up.”

This proved to be a life-changing decision for Jean.

Other ways Jean uses Google Smart Home

Soon, Jean learned the many ways this technology could make her life safer, easier, and more enjoyable.

“I use it every single day! I particularly like controlling the lights and devices with just my voice, but I also use Google Smart Home to build my shopping list, which gets sent to my daughter’s phone. She then just drops off everything I ordered.”

Jean also says it is difficult for her to have a sense of time as she cannot see the degree of light that is coming from the outside.

“It’s just so good when you are waking up in the dark – and you don’t know what time it is – to simply ask Google.”

While Feros Care’s Google Smart Home service supports Jean with her daily routines, it also brings her joy and company.

“I am a follower of the AFL, and she [Google] keeps me updated on the scores. It’s funny – I say ‘she’. I know it’s a machine, but it’s just so lovely to have someone to talk to.”

Additionally, Google Smart Home supports Jean with another condition called Charles Bonnet Syndrome. This syndrome is more common among the elderly who lose their sight, causing some individuals to experience visual hallucinations, which can leave them feeling quite emotional. Using Google Smart Home and listening to music or the radio can help Jean to relax and overcome these unpleasant moments.

A must have

Jean cannot imagine a life without Google Smart Home.

“Honestly, I would not like to be without Google anymore and I would love to live long enough to see what technological advancements we make in the future.”

Jean is using Google Smart Home everyday, improving her quality of life significantly. She has become an advocate for technology as it is supporting her to adapt to her medical conditions, plus providing peace of mind for both Jean and her daughter.

To learn more about Google Smart Home or our other safety and convenience focused technology and products, click here.