Care Homes and Assisted Living for Blind Seniors

Are There Assisted Living Facilities for Seniors with Vision Loss?

Most assisted living facilities and care homes welcome older adults with a wide range of needs but may not cater exclusively to a specific medical condition, such as blindness. You can still find a facility that meets your loved one’s needs; it may require extra effort.

Many blind or visually impaired seniors call assisted living facilities home. They’re a solid choice for older adults who are decently healthy and independent yet require help with activities of daily living or personal care.

At a minimum, you can expect an assisted living facility to offer:

• Senior-friendly rooms, apartments, condos, or homes
• On-site medical care
• Balanced meals
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• Assistance with activities of daily living (as needed)
• Recreational opportunities: fitness centers, fitness classes, outdoor walking paths
• Socialization opportunities: book clubs, game rooms, group activities
• Accommodations to meet your loved one’s unique needs
• Transportation to appointments and outings

Just keep in mind that not all assisted living facilities have specially trained staff or customized rooms designed to support the needs of blind older adults. Most do have accommodations for seniors with mild to moderate visual impairments. This includes seniors with diseases that will likely result in worsening vision, such as glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy.

As you learn about different assisted living facilities, look out for those with training, amenities, and features available to assist visually impaired older adults.

If you prefer to age in your own home, that’s an option, too. Home care companies can make living at home safe, secure, and enjoyable. Check out our guide to home care to learn more!

Features to Look for in Blind Assisted Living Providers

As you search for an assisted living facility for your visually impaired loved one, it’s important to look for and ask about the following features.

Exceptional Staff Qualifications

Research and ask questions about staff qualifications. It’s crucial to find a facility with highly-trained staff who understand the needs of blind and visually impaired residents. Staff caring for the blind require a lot of patience and must have clear communication skills to assist residents in getting around. Caregiver teams should also understand the signs of progression in conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other common vision-related problems. That way, they can best meet the patient’s changing needs.

Some questions to ask might include:

• What experience do staff members have working with seniors who are blind or low-vision?
• Are there currently any blind or low-vision residents living at the facility?
• Does anyone on staff have experience with my loved one’s vision condition? If not, is training available?
• What eye health monitoring services are available?
• If furniture is rearranged in common areas, what protocol is in place to help blind or low-vision seniors with the changes?

Blind-Friendly Structural Features and Amenities

Facilities dedicated to blind and low-vision patients will have blind-friendly features in common rooms, living rooms, dining areas, and everywhere residents visit. However, if you’re considering a living arrangement in a mixed-community setting, look for a facility (or a wing or unit) that offers these accessibility features:

• Halls and rooms that are free of clutter and easy to navigate
• Sharply contrasting walls and carpeting
• Contrasting tape on stairs
• Window coverings and adjustable lighting to control glare
• Directions and signs in large print with braille options
• Clear floors — no throw rugs and minimal use of low-lying furniture to prevent falls
• Blind-friendly dining and common areas with escort services available
• High-contrast activity calendars and handouts with bold, sans-serif fonts
• Assistive devices and tools, such as oversized digital clocks, automatic reader clocks, large-button phones with braille features, magnifying glasses, etc.
• Plenty of books on tape, large-print books, braille readers, closed-circuit televisions, and magnifying reading machines
• Enlarged playing cards, bingo cards, and board games
• Assisted living care and engaging activities focused on the daily needs of vision-impaired seniors, including engaging events and inclusive activities
• Established support groups and resources for residents and their families coping with vision loss
• On-site vision care and visual rehabilitation therapy

If assisted living doesn’t sound ideal, don’t worry! You have other options. Check out some alternatives to assisted living.

The Average Costs of Elder Blind Care and Payment Options

How Much Does Blind Senior Assisted Living Cost?

Costs for assisted living vary by state and facility. The same is true for assisted living facilities that cater to the needs of blind or low-vision older adults. To offer a sense of what prices you might expect, let’s take a look at the estimated national median costs of different types of senior living in 2024.1

National Median Costs of Senior Living

Note that assisted living is the most affordable residential option. It even has a lower median cost than full-time home care services.

Options for Paying for Blind Senior Living Expenses

Payment options for assisted living for blind older adults vary, depending on your income, the state you live in, and what facility you choose.

Medicare and most private health insurance plans don’t cover long-term care, including assisted living.2 However, you can still use your health insurance for covered services — like doctor’s appointments — while living in an assisted living facility.

• Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI): LCTI policies cover most senior living expenses, including assisted living. However, policies vary. Check with your carrier to see what coverage you have.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): You can use your monthly SSI payments to cover a portion of your senior living expenses. Some states offer additional benefits to blind adults through the Optional State Supplement (OSS). If available and you qualify, the program will provide monthly financial assistance for blind elder care. OSS amounts vary greatly.3
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage varies between states. In most cases, you can use Medicaid to cover personal care services at an assisted living facility. However, states can’t use Medicaid to pay for room and board at an assisted living facility. Some states offer other financial assistance programs to cover living expenses at an assisted living facility. Visit your state’s Medicaid website to see what your options are.
• Veterans Assistance: The VA doesn’t pay for room and board at an assisted living facility.4 However, VA Aid and Attendance benefits can be used for assisted living expenses. To qualify, you must get a VA pension and meet one of four requirements (one of which is having limited eyesight).
• Private Pay: Many seniors pay for some or all of their assisted living expenses with private pay. Selling a home, taking out a reverse mortgage, cashing out retirement accounts, asking friends and family for contributions, and dipping into savings are common options for those who have exhausted other national, state, and local resources for assistance.

How to Find Senior Living Options for Blind Seniors

Finding the right senior living option for your visually impaired loved one may require extra effort. Odds are, you won’t be able to find an assisted living facility dedicated exclusively to blind seniors. Instead, focus on finding a senior living facility in the right location and then ask how they care for blind and visually impaired residents.

Here are a few ways to kick-start your search.

Speak to Your Loved One’s Ophthalmologist

Your loved one’s ophthalmologist or eye surgeon is an excellent resource. Ask if they know of any local assisted living facilities or care homes that have experience caring for older adults with a similar level of visual impairment. They might direct you to a specific facility or a local organization or resource that can help. At the very least, they can suggest features and amenities that would help your loved one to age safely, whether at home or in an assisted living facility.

Use Our Senior Living Directory

Explore different assisted living options in our extensive senior living directory. The tool makes it easy to find quality care providers near you. You can also call us on our helpline. Using the search tool and calling the Elder Helpline Phone Number is free.

Search Online

If you’re searching online, your best bet is to locate assisted living facilities in the area where your loved one wants to live. Then, visit the website or call to learn how they can meet the needs of a visually impaired or blind older adult.

Simply do an internet search — or ask Alexa — for “assisted living facilities near me” or “assisted living in city, state.” Since assisted living is an umbrella term, it may also be helpful to search for specific types:

• Adult group homes
• Adult residential care homes
• Community residential facilities for seniors
• Senior residential care facilities
• Assisted living communities
• Continuing care retirement communities

Visit the American Council of the Blind Website

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is a national organization devoted to improving the quality of life for blind and visually impaired individuals. View an extensive list of resources for older individuals who are blind or visually impaired on this organization’s website.