United Way Logo
Search
Search
Menu
Newsletter
Keep Me Informed! Sign up for updates from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Join Our Mailing List
Events
News
Donate
Search for:
See The Impact
Education
Food Access
Healthy Aging
Emergency Services
Results
United Way Partners
Take Action
Give
Advocate
Volunteer
Racial Justice and Equity
COVID-19
Find Resources
Resource Center
For Individuals
For Corporations
For Campaign Coordinators
For Nonprofits
For Community Schools
Media Center
Learn About United Way
100th Anniversary
What We Do
Why We Do It
How We Do It
Who We Are
Financial Reports and Policies
Investments
Search for:
News
Home
|
News
|
December 2015
|
Vision Loss - Getting From There to Here!
Vision Loss - Getting From There to Here!
Published: December 16, 2015
Author: Karen Z. Huetter, Development Director, Center for Vision Loss
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. T
hey 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 bette
r. 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.
Comments
Blog post currently doesn't have any comments.
Leave comment
Name:
Email:
Your URL:
Comments:
Healthy Aging
Post archive
February 2023(
1
)
January 2023(
4
)
December 2022(
7
)
November 2022(
4
)
October 2022(
7
)
September 2022(
6
)
August 2022(
5
)
July 2022(
6
)
June 2022(
9
)
May 2022(
3
)
April 2022(
3
)
March 2022(
9
)
February 2022(
2
)
January 2022(
5
)
December 2021(
9
)
November 2021(
7
)
October 2021(
4
)
September 2021(
6
)
August 2021(
5
)
July 2021(
9
)
June 2021(
7
)
May 2021(
2
)
April 2021(
9
)
March 2021(
7
)
February 2021(
3
)
January 2021(
4
)
December 2020(
5
)
November 2020(
6
)
October 2020(
6
)
September 2020(
5
)
August 2020(
7
)
July 2020(
6
)
June 2020(
5
)
May 2020(
3
)
April 2020(
2
)
March 2020(
3
)
February 2020(
3
)
January 2020(
3
)
December 2019(
6
)
November 2019(
11
)
October 2019(
3
)
September 2019(
7
)
August 2019(
9
)
July 2019(
1
)
June 2019(
2
)
May 2019(
8
)
April 2019(
5
)
March 2019(
4
)
February 2019(
7
)
January 2019(
4
)
December 2018(
2
)
November 2018(
3
)
October 2018(
3
)
September 2018(
10
)
August 2018(
5
)
July 2018(
3
)
June 2018(
10
)
May 2018(
4
)
April 2018(
5
)
March 2018(
10
)
February 2018(
3
)
January 2018(
4
)
December 2017(
5
)
November 2017(
3
)
October 2017(
3
)
September 2017(
2
)
August 2017(
5
)
July 2017 (
4
)
June 2017(
3
)
May 2017(
9
)
April 2017(
4
)
March 2017(
8
)
February 2017(
12
)
January 2017(
8
)
December 2016(
11
)
November 2016 (
19
)
October 2016(
15
)
September 2016 (
5
)
August 2016(
5
)
July 2016(
6
)
June 2016(
9
)
May 2016 (
6
)
April 2016(
7
)
March 2016(
9
)
February 2016(
12
)
January 2016(
3
)
December 2015(
9
)
November 2015(
11
)
October 2015(
3
)
September 2015(
4
)
August 2015 (
1
)
July 2015 (
1
)
June 2015(
4
)
May 2015(
5
)
April 2015 (
2
)
March 2015(
5
)
February 2015(
6
)
January 2015(
2
)
December 2014(
5
)
November 2014(
4
)
October 2014(
4
)
September 2014(
8
)
August 2014(
9
)
July 2014(
3
)
June 2014(
4
)
May 2014(
5
)
April 2014(
4
)
March 2014(
7
)
February 2014(
5
)
January 2014(
4
)
Share this Article
Tweet
Show me how my $$ Makes A Difference
Please insert a dollar amount below
$
could help United Way provide:
Make a donation today