Assistive devices adoption by people with Age related Macular Degeneration. A small scale qualitative study.

Background: Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) causes a progressive decrease in central vision and limits many occupations. Assistive devices (AD) and changes in environment are helpful means to help people with ARMD to... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) causes a progressive decrease in central vision and limits many occupations. Assistive devices (AD) and changes in environment are helpful means to help people with ARMD to remain independent. But these adaptations are sometimes not accepted by people with ARMD or accepted but not used in their everyday life. This study aims to explore how people with ARMD experience the acceptance and use of AD and changes in their environment, over time, in relation with their acceptance of their disability.
Method:
Five people with advanced ARMD (chosen through purposeful sampling) answered a qualitative semi-structured interview.
Results:
The changes in identities/occupations seem intertwined with the use of AD throughout the course of the illness, and not only at specific stages. The effectiveness of an AD seems not to be linked to specific moments in the process. Moreover, even unused AD seem to play significant roles in the adaptation process experienced by the persons with ARMD, e.g. by helping them to accept a new condition or situation. The result of the struggle between normalisation and awareness of abnormal experience is a key process leading to request help and new AD.
Conclusion:
AD have complex significations in the process of adaptation to the disability. AD use is linked to changes in identities.
Application to Practice:
Within such a complex process, each client must be supported with individual specialized advices. Client centred practice is the golden way to adapt to the complex processes lived by people with ARMD.