Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Visual impairments, functional and health status, and life satisfaction among elderly bedouins in Israel

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Ageing International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Age-related vision impairment is a major cause of functional limitations. It often affects their social, emotional, mental and physical well-being as well as ability to everyday functioning. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of visual impairment on daily functioning and subjective well-being of elderly Bedouins. The study cohort included 88 elderly Bedouins 60 years old and more, who participated in a day-care center program located in a Bedouin town in the southern region of Israel. The findings show that that the majority of the respondents have visual problems in terms of close and distance sight. Visual impairment was found significantly correlated with perceived daily functioning and health status as well as sense of life satisfaction; those having visual problems reported more problems with performing activities of daily living, their health status is more deteriorated and their life satisfaction level is lower compared with those not having visual problems. A discussion of the findings is provided in terms of policy and services provision for the elderly. Also, recommendations are provided for additional research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avelund, K., Luck, M., & Tinsley, R. (1996). Cultural differences in functional ability among elderly people in Birmingham, England, and Glostrup, Denmark. Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology, 11, 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, N.D. & Bern-Klug, M. (1999). Income characteristics of rural older women and implications for health status. Journal of Women and Aging, 11 (1), 27–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bass, D.M. & Noelker, L.S. (1987). The influence of family caregivers on elders’ use of in-home services: An expanded conceptual framework. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 28, 184–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bazargan, Mohsen, Baker, R.S., & Bazargan, S.H. (2001). Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. 56B (5), P268-P278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G., Bogaert-Tillis, M.P., Drake, M., & Hester, A. (1984). Vision impairment in older persons. Aging Health Policy Center, San Francisco: University of California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Branch, L.G., Horowitz, A., & Carr, C. (1989). The implications for everyday life of incident self-reported visual decline among people over age 65 living in the community. The Gerontologist, 29 (3), 359–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calsyn, R.F. & Roades, L.A. (1993). Predicting perceived service need, service awareness, and service utilization. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 21, 59–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Central Bureau of Statistics. (1997). Survey of those aging 60+, Jerusalem. (In Hebrew).

  • Chapleski, E.E. (1989). Determinants of knowledge of services to the elderly: Are strong ties enabling or inhibiting? The Gerontologist, 29, 539–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherry, K.E., Keller, M.J., & Dudley, W.N. (1991). A needs assessment of persons with visual impairments: Implications for older adults and service providers. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 17 (1), 99–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colsher, P.L., & Wallace, R.B. (1990). Are hearing and visual dysfunction associated with cognitive impairment? A population-based approach. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 9 (1): 91–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiStefano, A. F. & Aston, S.J. (1986). Rehabilitation for the blind and visually impaired elderly. In S.J. Brody & G.E. Ruff, (Eds.), Aging and rehabilitation: Advances in the state of the art (pp. 203–217), New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunlop, D.D., Manheim, L.M., Song, J., & Chang, R.W. (2002). Gender and ethnic-racial disparities in health care utilization among older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Series B,: Psychological and Social Sciences, 57B, (4), S221-S233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Femia, E.E., Zarit S.H., & Johansson, B. (2001). Disablement process in very late life: A study of the oldest-old in Sweden. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 56B (1): P12-P23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, A.G., Liu, Y., Velozo, C.A., & Pan, A.W. (1992). Cross-cultural assessment of process skills. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46, 876–884.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fortney, J., Chumbler, N., Cody, M., & Beck, C. (2002). Geographic access and service use in a community-based sample of cognitively impaired elders. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 21 (3), 352–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillman, A.E., Simmel, A., & Simon, E.P. (1986). Visual handicap in the aged: Self reported visual disability and the quality of life of residents of public housing for the elderly. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 80, 588–590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grieg, D.E., West, M. L., & Overbury, O. (1986). Successful use of low vision aids: Visual and psychological factors. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 80, 985–988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinemann, A.W., Colorez, A., Frank, S., & Taylor, D. (1988). Leisure activity participation of elderly individuals with low vision. The Gerontologist, 28, 182–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, A. (1994). Vision impairment and functional disability among nursing home residents. The Gerontologist, 34, 316–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, A. (1995), Aging, vision loss and depression: A review of the research. Aging & Vision News, 7, 1, 6, 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, A. (1997). Aging and vision loss: Experiences, attitudes and knowledge of older Americans: Technical summary, New York, NY: Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, A., Brennan, M., Su, Y. (2001). Dual sensory impairment among the elderly. New York, NY: Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jette, A.M., Crawford, S.I. & Tennstedt, S. (1996). Toward understanding ethnic differences in late life disability. Research on Aging, 18 (3), 292–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kempen, G.I.J.M., Verbrugge, L.M., Merril, S.S., & Ormel, J. (1998). The impact of multiple impairments on disability in community-dwelling older people. Age and Aging, 27, 595–604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirchner, C. (1985). Data on blindness and visual impairment in the U.S.: A delivery. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaPlante, M.P. (1988). Data on disability from the National Health Interview Survey, 1983–1985. An InfoUse Report, Washington DC: US National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laforge, R.G., Spector, W.D., & Sternberg, J. (1992). The relationship of vision and hearing impairment to one-year mortality and functional decline. Journal of Aging and Health, 4 (1), 126–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCaig, L.F. (1994). National hospital ambulatory medical care survey: 1992 emergency department summary. Advance data from vital and health statistics: No 245. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCaslin, R. (1989). Service utilization by the elderly: The importance of orientation to the formal system. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 14, 153–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meir, A., Ben David, Y., & El-Asem, S. (1990), Changes in the elderly persons’ status in The Urbanizing Bedouin Society and its public implications, Israel: Ben-Gurion University. (In Hebrew)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, (1999). Annual Report on the Legally Blind, Jerusalem (In Hebrew).

  • Moon, A., Lubben, J. E., Villa, V. (1998). Awareness and utilization of community long-term care services by elderly Korean an non-Hispanic white Americans. The Gerontologist, 38 (3), 309–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mui, A. C., & Burnette, D. (1994). Long-term care service use by frail elders: Is ethnicity a factor? The Gerontologist, 34, 190–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutran, E., & Ferraro, K.F. (1988). Medical need and use of services among older men and women. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 43, S162-S171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, K.A. (1981). Visual impairment among elderly Americans: Statistics in transition. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 31 (7): 331–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemet, G. F., & Bailey, A. J. (2000). Distance and health care utilization among the rural elderly. Social Science & Medicine, 50 (9), 1197–1208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neugarten, B.L., Havighurst, R.J., & Tobin, S.S. (1961). The measurement of life satisfaction. Journals of Gerontology, 16, 134–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orr, A.L. (1991). The psychosocial aspects of aging and vision loss. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 17 (1), 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Resnick, H.E., Fries, J.F., & Verbrugge, L.M. (1997). Windows to their worlds: The affect of sensory impairments on social engagement and activity time in nursing home residents. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 52B, S135-S144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riana, P., Wong, M., Dukeshire, S. Cambers, L.W., & Lindsay, J. (2000). Prevalence, risk factors and self-reported medical causes of seeing and hearing related disabilities among older adults. Canadian Journal on Aging, 19 (2), 260–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ring, C., Nayak, U.S.L., & Isaacs, B. (1988). Balance function in elderly people who have and who have not fallen. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 6, 261–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, P., & Long, R.G. (1991). The challenge of establishing a national service delivery program for older blind persons. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 17 (1), 153–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rovner, B. W, & Ganguli, M. (1998). Depression and disability associated with impaired vision: The VIES Project. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 46 (5), 617–619.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, L.Z. (1983). Falls in the elderly: A clinical approach. Western Journal of Medicine, 138, 273–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salthouse, T.A., Hancock, H.E., Meinz, E.J., & Hambrick, D.Z. (1996), Interrelations of age, visual acuity, and cognitive functioning. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 51B (6), P317-P330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shirley, L. & Summer, L. (2003). Older Hispanic Americans: Less care for chronic conditions. Washington DC: Georgetown University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shmotkin, D. & Hadari, G. (1996). An outlook on subjective well-being in older Israeli adults: A unified formulation. International journal of Aging and Human Development, 42 (4), 271–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverstien, J., Selzer, M., Ernst, P., Bodanski, Z., Kosovski, R., Shamir, Z., Kastenbaum, M., & Lilos, P. (1981). A survey of medical and social needs of handicapped elderly in Bnei Brak- Necessary services and their costs. Jerusalem: National Security Institute Ministry of Health and Tel-Aviv University (In Hebrew).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloss-Luey, H. (1994). Sensory loss: A neglected Issue in social work. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 21 (3/4), 213–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuck, A. E., Walthert, J. M., Nikolaus, T., Bula, C. J., Hohmann, C., & Beck, J. C. (1999). Risk factors for functional status decline in community-living elderly people: A systematic literature review. Social Science and Medicine, 48, 445–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuen, C. (1991). Awareness of resources for visually impaired older adults among the aging network. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 17 (2), 165–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suro, R., & Kropp, S. (2000). Beyond economics. American Demographics, 22 (2), 48–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tennstedt, S., & Chang, B.H. (1998). Relative distribution of ethnicity versus socioeconomic status in explaining differences in disability and receipt of informal care. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 53B (2), S61-S70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wade, M.G., Lindquist, R., Taylor, J.R., & Treat-Jacobson, D. (1995). Optical flow, spatial orientation and the control of posture in the elderly. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 50B (1), P51-P58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahl, Hans-Werner, Scilling, O., Oswald, F., & Hey, V. (1999). Psychosocial consequences of age-related visual impairment: Comparison with mobility-impaired older adults and long-term outcome. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 54B (5), P304-P316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahl, Hans-Werner, Oswald, F., & Zimprich, D. (1999a). Everyday competence in visually impaired older adults: A case for person-environment perspectives. The Gerontologist, 39 (2), 140–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallhagen, M.I., Strawbridge, W.J., Shema, S.J., Kurata, J., & Kaplan, G.A. (2001). Comparative impact of hearing and vision impairment on subsequent functioning. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 49 (8), 1086–1092.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter-Ginzburg, A. Guralnik, J.M., Blumstein, T., Gindin, J. & Modan, B. (2001). Assistance with personal care activities among the old-old in Israel: A national epidemiological study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 49 (9), 1176–1184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolinsky, F.E.D., Coe, R.M., Miller, D.K., Prendergast, J.M., Creel, M.J., & Chavez, M.N. (1983). Health services utilization among the noninstitutionalized elderly. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 325–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeadon, A. (1991). “Far too little, far too slow”: Toward a new and immediate strategy of rehabilitation for the elderly visually handicapped. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 17 (2), 181–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spitzer Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Esther Iecovich

Authors
  1. Esther Iecovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard E. Isralowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esther Iecovich.

Additional information

Esther Iecovich, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer at the Department of Social Work and head of Masters Program in Gerontology at the Ben-Gurion University in Israel. Dr. Iecovich received her doctorate from the Tel Aviv University. She is a gerontologist and her studies focus on policy issues on aging and services for elderly people. Her previous positions included management of services for elderly people on local and national levels. She was also a member of various commissions on aging in Israel and a board member of the Israel Gerontological Society.

Richard Isralowitz, Ph.D., is Director of Negev Project Vision—a community-based out reach effort that provides eye care to elderly and underserved people of the region including the Bedouin. Professor Isralowitz is a senior academic who serves as an advisor to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs for social research in underdeveloped countries throughout Africa and the Middle East. Among his academic honors are: International University Visiting Professor, New York University; Distinguished Hallsworth Visiting Scholar for Social Policy and Research, University of Manchester, England; and, Research Fellow, United States Department of Justice.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Iecovich, E., Isralowitz, R.E. Visual impairments, functional and health status, and life satisfaction among elderly bedouins in Israel. Ageing Int. 29, 71–87 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-004-1010-7

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-004-1010-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation