Skip to main content
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
  • My Cart
  • Text Only
  • Listen
  • Print Page
  • Language
    • English
    • Arabic
    • Chinese
    • Greek
    • Italian
    • Portuguese
    • Spanish
    • Vietnamese
  • Search form

Check My Macula Check My Macula Join the Community Join the Community Order Free Information Order Free Information Call our helpline at 1800111709 Helpline
1800 111 709
Donate Donate
  • Home
  • Macular Disease
    • Macular Degeneration
      • About Macular Degeneration
      • Check My Macula
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
      • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetes
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Low Vision
      • Living with Low Vision
      • Carer and Family
      • Aids and Technology
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
      • Macular Pucker
      • Macular Telangiectasia
      • Myopic Macular Degeneration
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
  • Research
    • Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants Awarded
      • Research Grant Recipients
      • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants Panel
    • Support Research
    • Latest Research
      • Research News
      • MDFA Research
      • Macular Diseases
      • Understanding Research
      • Social Impact
    • Research Updates
      • Annual Research Update
      • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
    • Research studies
      • Research participants needed in the Canberra region who enjoy art and have vision loss
  • Resources
    • Order Publications and Resources
    • Find a Healthcare Provider
    • Audio and Video
      • Audio
      • Podcasts
      • Patient Voices
      • Videos
    • Macula Menus
    • Check My Macula toolkits
    • Aged care resources
  • News & Events
    • Newsletters
      • Vision Voice Newsletters
      • Subscribe to Newsletters
      • Archive
    • News
      • 2021 news
      • 2020 news
      • 2019 News
      • 2018 News
      • 2017 News
      • 2016 News
      • Archived News
    • Events & Activities
      • Community Events
      • Education Sessions
      • Events Calendar
      • Watch past webinars
    • Media Centre
      • Media Releases
  • Foundation
    • Organisation
      • History
      • Objectives
      • Guiding Principles
      • Annual Reports
      • Whistleblower Policy
      • Financial Statements
    • People
      • Patron
      • State Patrons / Representatives
      • Ambassadors
      • Foundation Board
      • Committees
      • State Chairs
      • National Research Advisor
    • Our Work
      • Awareness
      • Education
      • Support Services
      • Research
      • Representation
    • Support Us
      • Donate
      • Bequests
      • Fundraise
      • Volunteer
      • Friends of the Foundation
      • Sponsors and Supporters
      • Professional Friends
    • Contact Us
Listen
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
Check My Macula Macula Join the Community Join Us Order Free Information Free Info Donate Donate
Menu
  • My Cart
    • Language
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Chinese
      • Greek
      • Italian
      • Portuguese
      • Spanish
      • Vietnamese
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
      • Macular Degeneration
        • About Macular Degeneration
        • Check My Macula
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
        • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetes
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Low Vision
        • Living with Low Vision
        • Carer and Family
        • Aids and Technology
        • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Legal blindness
      • Other Macular Diseases
        • Best Disease
        • Macular Hole
        • Macular Pucker
        • Macular Telangiectasia
        • Myopic Macular Degeneration
        • Retinal Detachment
        • Retinitis Pigmentosa
        • Retinal Vein Occlusion
        • Stargardt Disease
        • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
        • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
        • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
      • Visit Eye Health Professional
        • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
      • Macular Disease
        • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
    • Research
      • Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Awarded
        • Research Grant Recipients
        • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Panel
      • Support Research
      • Latest Research
        • Research News
        • MDFA Research
        • Macular Diseases
        • Understanding Research
        • Social Impact
      • Research Updates
        • Annual Research Update
        • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
      • Research studies
        • Research participants needed in the Canberra region who enjoy art and have vision loss
    • Resources
      • Order Publications and Resources
      • Find a Healthcare Provider
      • Audio and Video
        • Audio
        • Podcasts
        • Patient Voices
        • Videos
      • Macula Menus
      • Check My Macula toolkits
      • Aged care resources
    • News & Events
      • Newsletters
        • Vision Voice Newsletters
        • Subscribe to Newsletters
        • Archive
      • News
        • 2021 news
        • 2020 news
        • 2019 News
        • 2018 News
        • 2017 News
        • 2016 News
        • Archived News
      • Events & Activities
        • Community Events
        • Education Sessions
        • Events Calendar
        • Watch past webinars
      • Media Centre
        • Media Releases
    • Foundation
      • Organisation
        • History
        • Objectives
        • Guiding Principles
        • Annual Reports
        • Whistleblower Policy
        • Financial Statements
      • People
        • Patron
        • State Patrons / Representatives
        • Ambassadors
        • Foundation Board
        • Committees
        • State Chairs
        • National Research Advisor
      • Our Work
        • Awareness
        • Education
        • Support Services
        • Research
        • Representation
      • Support Us
        • Donate
        • Bequests
        • Fundraise
        • Volunteer
        • Friends of the Foundation
        • Sponsors and Supporters
        • Professional Friends
      • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Resources
  • Aged care resources
Back

Resources

  • Order Publications and Resources
  • Find a Healthcare Provider
  • Audio and Video
    • Audio
      • Macular Degeneration
      • Low Vision - A Guide
      • Nutrition and Supplements for Macular Degeneration
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
      • About Macular Degeneration
      • Alicia's Story - Stargardt's Disease
      • 2015 mEYE World Awards Event
      • 2015 Research Grants Awards
      • 2015 Research Grant Recipients
      • 2015 mEYE World CSA
      • State Governors - Custodians of Vision
      • Mac De Gen
      • 2013 Research Grant Awards
      • What is Macular Degeneration?
      • 2014 Morning Show Interview
      • 2011 Research Grant Awards
      • 2010 Awareness Week
      • Sir Jack Brabham AO
      • Family, Friend and Carer
      • 2012 mEYE World Winners
      • Living Well with Macular Degeneration
      • TV Campaign Adverts
    • Patient Voices
      • Patient Voices: Elizabeth
      • Patient Voices: Lorin
      • Patient Voices: Jim
  • Check My Macula resources
  • Macula Menu 2020
  • Refer a Patient
  • Aged care resources

Aged care resources

  • Album
  • Gallery
Introduction from Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP
  • Introduction from Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP

Sight-saving resources to identify eye disease in Residential Aged Care Facilities

Download or view the resource materials:
 
• Managing eye health and vision loss in RACFs: A training video for care workers
• Managing eye health and vision loss in RACFs: A resource for care workers
• Managing eye health and vision loss in RACFs: A resource for management and health professionals
• Understanding eye health and vision loss: A resource for families and guardians
 
 
These digital training tools are designed to improve understanding of eye health and vision loss in Australia’s residential aged care facilities (RACFs). 
 
A comprehensive study by the Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA), which led to the Vision and Eye Healthcare Study in Residential Aged Care Facilities report, found high rates of eye disease, often under-diagnosed and untreated, in RACFs. 
 
Many people living in RACFs have vision problems. Sometimes, these problems have not been diagnosed or treated, or the staff are unaware of the risk factors or that the person with vision problems needs certain types of help. 
 
Vision loss can have many negative consequences, including an increased risk of falls and hip fractures. It also has a significant impact on independence and quality of life.
 
With funding from the Australian Government, the Foundation – in collaboration with a team of experts – carried out eye tests on residents across eight RACFs. Our report found an urgent need for reform of vision care within the residential aged care system and made some extraordinary findings:
 
• more than 70% of residents had some evidence of eye disease;
• around 30% had untreated cataracts;
• over 60% had some degree of age-related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in people over 50); and
• a quarter were found to have low vision.
 
Despite these statistics, the report found the use of vision aids – other than spectacles – was extremely low; and identified barriers in access to ophthalmology services.
 
The report included a summary of key findings and a proposed model of care, which can be incorporated into the routine personal and clinical care of residents. The report also included recommendations to improve the management of vision and eye health in RACFs. 
 
Macular Disease Foundation Australian CEO Dee Hopkins said: “While not mandatory, we hope that residential aged care facilities will incorporate these digital resources into their management systems and staff training programs. We also have for information for families and guardians.
 
“And our sincere hope is that our training video is shown to every care worker in the residential aged care system.”
 
The Macular Disease Foundation has further information and support for people with macular disease and vision loss. We also have a range of other resources for carers and health professionals. 
 
The MDFA operates a Helpline - 1800 111 709  - and has a partnership program for healthcare professionals. 
 
Download or view the Report:
 
• Vision and Eye Healthcare Study in Residential Aged Care Facilities - Full report 
• Vision and Eye Healthcare Study in Residential Aged Care – Executive Summary 
• Sight saving resources for Australia’s Residential Aged Care Facilities – Media Release 25 October 2018
 

age-care.png

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share this article
Select Your Type?
 
 
 
  • Home
  • Macular Disease
  • Research
  • Resources
  • News & Events
  • Foundation

Contact Us

1800 111 709
[email protected]
Suite 902, Level 9, 447 Kent Street, Sydney 2000

Follow Us

acnc_logo_reverse.png


Helpline 1800 111 709

Donate

Macular Disease Foundation Australia ABN 52096255177
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Disclaimer