Vision Loss - Getting From There to Here!

How do you define independence? Most of us would quickly say it is having the ability to jump in your car and drive yourself to doctor appointments, grocery shopping or a favorite restaurant at a time that suits you. But what happens when severe vision loss takes away that option? 

Joan, age 65, was looking for social/recreational activities with others who were blind or visually impaired so she could get out of the house more and increase her confidence.  Joan worried that if she found an activity that interested her how would I get there?

Theresa, age 74, was living with type 2 diabetes and vision loss. Theresa wanted to attend educational classes to learn more about how to cope with both of her conditions but worried how would I get there?

More than 30 years ago, the Center for Vision Loss solved the “how would I get there” dilemma by establishing Escorted Transportation, a door-through-door service with a sighted guide. While times have changed, the need remains and today. Escorted transportation has become the most utilized program provided by the agency. Its success is due to the inclusion of a sighted guide who provides the additional assistance necessary because of the client’s increased difficulty with reading, mobility, visual motor activities and interpreting visual information –all stressors when accessing new environments.

The majority of our clients are seniors affected by one or more of the age-related eye diseases—cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. While they want to remain living independently in their own homes, they may have limited access to family members or friends they can rely on for their transportation needs. Or they may be single or widows/widowers who live alone or may live with a spouse who is a caregiver but also can no longer drive. Our clients may need rides to essential medical appointments, grocery shopping, and locations such as the pharmacy or bank. They are also are interested in accessing the quality of life improvement opportunities provided by the agency. These opportunities include support groups to improve mental health, life skills education to learn new skills, and socialization activities to avoid isolation.

Center for Vision Loss clients may take up to 3 round trip rides to essential appointments each month and an unlimited amount of rides to the quality of life improvement opportunities. They pay a nominal fee of $6 per round trip ride (the rest of the actual cost of the ride is supported by a grant from the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and other funders in the Lehigh Valley). If a client cannot afford to pay, the fee is waived at the discretion of the client’s caseworker so that no one is ever turned away from a ride because of financial limitations.

After Joan, and Theresa became clients of the Center for Vision Loss, their lives began to change for the better. They all report that using Escorted Transportation has enabled them to maintain better health, feel less stressed, expand their horizons and thrive while living with vision loss.
  
Joan, who was looking for opportunities to socialize, now enjoys the weekly Lehigh Valley Mall Walks. She has more energy and joining the gang for coffee and chatting at Chick-Fil-A has improved her independence and confidence.

Theresa, who is concerned that she is managing her diabetes properly, attends programs such as the agency’s recent 5-part seminar on “Living Well with Diabetes and Vision Loss.” She discovered that there were various new methods such as the V-Go Patch Pump to help people with vision loss administer their insulin more easily.

The successes exhibited by our clients in improving their quality of life are seldom dramatic—rather they are accomplished in small but important increments. Many of our clients are also affected by other issues such as physical disabilities, continuing deterioration of remaining vision, level of psychological well-being in adjustment to blindness and declining or new health concerns. By providing Escorted Transportation we make sure that our clients can attend the vital appointments and programs they need to maintain their physical, mental and social health.