VR Assignment – ‘We Are Alfred”; Age-Related Macular Degeneration & Hearing Deficits
This experience reminded me of a similar simulation I partook in while I was in high school. During that time, my healthcare class instructor has us experience a dementia simulation where we would be asked to complete various tasks. At the very end, we would be graded on our cognition based on how the tasks were finished. This library resource was a little different but had the same idea.
My grandmother and her mother both suffered from macular degeneration. Both had surgeries to correct the vision anomalies. My grandmother described the experience of vision loss as a big black abyss in the middle of her span of vision. She used to become extremely frustrated with her sight, as she could not see anything directly in front of her. Her peripheral vision was better than any vision straight-on; this same experience was articulated in the simulation with Alfred.
I imagine that this can be incredibly difficult and frustrating for a patient experience. Also, it must be difficult to understand and diagnose, especially in Alfred’s case where he shows some cognitive problems. I would also assume that relationships may change; some people may “baby” Alfred more or feel they must yell for Alfred to hear. They may even not feel like talking with him for the sake of perceived inconvenience, which would almost certainly affect Alfred’s mental health.
It is medically suggested that people with ARMD follow a certain diet to help protect their eye health. Health care providers may advocate for consuming dark leafy veggies and several servings of fruit daily. It is recommended that the patient eat fish about 2-3 times a week and limit carbohydrates to those that have a lower glycemic index. Consuming mixed nuts and nut butter is also a good option for the protection of eye health.
As a future nurse, after finishing the “I Am Alfred” module, it clears up some misconceptions I may have had. It may be beneficial to sit somewhat to the periphery, or off-center when speaking to someone with perceived macular degeneration. It also may be helpful to offer assistive technology to help the patient understand me better. For example, the doctor in the simulation offered hearing devices to help Alfred hear him more clearly. I think that is a very good idea, as it allowed Alfred to actively listen to the doctor’s recommendations. This way, Alfred can become a part of the healthcare team and have autonomy.
This activity was very helpful in improving my understanding of ARMD and hearing deficits. I was able to physically see what someone with macular degeneration may see. Though I did not experience it first-hand with my own eyes, I was able to empathize with Alfred’s situation and would feel frustrated, too, if I were experiencing something similar. Perhaps the more frustrating experience was the hearing deficits; not being able to hear something clearly was more frustrating to me than the vision loss, as I was confused at parts of what was going on “around me.” This was a special exercise and I hope other future students partake in this experience so they may empathize with their older patients better.
Sources:
Eating for eye health. (n.d.). Macular Disease Foundation Australia. https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/about-macular-disease/age-related-macular-degeneration/nutrition-for-amd/
