Atención clínica y entrenamiento visual en el adulto mayor, una experiencia basada en evidencia

Abstract

Human aging leads to a decline in executive functions, working memory, and psychomotor speed. Taking into account the increase in life expectancy, this represents a challenge for today's societies. In this sense, the literature broadly describes the benefits generated by physical activity conceived as a health promoter, but attention needs to be diverted to promote the generation of evidence of the effects that visual function training can have on the quality of life of older adults. Taking into account the above, it was decided to work with a group of optometrists from different Latin American countries to promote the social appropriation of knowledge, understanding, and awareness of the organic and psychosocial changes that affect older adults, specifically in relation to general and ocular deterioration, in order to train them to design and implement interventions aimed at strengthening locomotion and vision functions, thus promoting independence and improving the quality of life of older adults. This objective was achieved by employing a methodology that integrated theoretical and practical content within the framework of a collaborative learning exercise, which allowed the identification of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affected both life expectancy and quality of life in an elderly patient with compromised visual skills. In addition, different physical exercise intervention protocols were explored, and a visual training scheme for the elderly was established based on the analysis of visual-motor and perceptual functions. Finally, the life prospects of an elderly person were contrasted based on the most relevant psychosocial aspects of these in their region.