Tips and tools for coping with vision loss

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend some good resources for people with vision loss?

My husband was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration, which has deteriorated his central vision, and he’s become very discouraged.

—Worried Wife Dear Worried,

I’m very sorry to hear about your husband’s eye condition. Unfortunately, there are about 20 million Americans living with macular degeneration today.

Over time, this progressive disease can rob people of their central vision, making everyday tasks like driving a car, reading a magazine or watching television extremely challenging. Here are some tips and resources that can help.

See a specialist

If your husband hasn’t already done so, he needs to see a low-vision specialist for a comprehensive examination. Lowvision specialists are ophthalmologists or optometrists with additional credentials or specialization in low-vision testing, diagnosis and treatment.

A low-vision exam, which is much different from a typical eye exam, will explore how your husband’s eye condition is affecting his day-to-day life, how he’s adapting emotionally, and prescribe solutions to help him regain as much dayto-day functioning as possible.

Visit a rehabilitation service

Your next step is to get your husband to a nearby vision rehabilitation service. These services, run by state or nonprofit organizations or private eye care clinics, help people with all types of uncorrectable vision impairments.

Most state and nonprofit services are free or low-cost, while private clinics typ- ically charge a fee or accept Medicare.

While vision rehabilitation does not restore lost sight, it does help people maximize their existing sight, or if they have no vision, it can equip them with techniques and tools to help them maintain an independent lifestyle.

Services include counseling, along with training on how to perform daily living tasks with low vision, and how to use visual and adaptive devices and assistive technologies that can help improve quality of life.

They also offer guidance for adapting your home, making it safer and easier for your husband to maneuver, and can help him locate low-vision support groups. Some agencies will even send their specialist out to work with him in the comfort of your own home.

To find a vision rehabilitation service near you, ask your husband’s eye doctor for a referral, or you can locate services yourself by calling the American Printing House (APH) Connect Center at 1800-232-5463. [Ed. Note: Locally, contact Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind at (301) 589-0894 or the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington at (202) 234-1010.]

Online tools

Another convenient place to get help for your husband is online at VisionAware (VisionAware.org). This free website, that’s part of the APH Connect Center, is specifically designed for older adults new to vision loss.

It provides information on eye diseases and disorders, along with dozens of practical tips, information and instructional videos on living with vision loss.

These include concepts for adapting your home to make it easier to navigate, techniques for traveling safely outside the home, and various tips on how to manage things like finances, medications and other tasks such as cooking, cleaning, grooming, reading, writing, doing hobbies and more.

VisionAware also provides a comprehensive list of more than 2,000 low-vision agencies and organizations across the country that’s searchable by state or category.

Another terrific low-vision resource is Hadley (Hadley.edu), a nonprofit and partner of the National Eye Institute and the National Eye Health Education Program.

Hadley offers online discussion groups, audio podcasts and dozens of free online workshop videos to help empower the blind and visually impaired. Hadley can also connect him with a network of peers who understand what he’s going through.

Metropolitan Washington Ear offers free services for visually impaired or blind people, including a reading service for many publications. Contact them at washear.org or (301) 681-6636.

Free glaucoma screenings by the Prevention of Blindness Society will be offered at the Beacon’s 50+Expos taking place this October in Maryland and N. Virginia. Visit thebeaconnewspapers.com/50-expo for more information.

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

By Charon P.W. Hines

Dear Seniors, Happy Summer! It felt so good to kick off the season with all of you at the Mayor’s 12th Annual Senior Symposium. But what made this event even more special was the confirmation I received just two weeks prior. On June 15, 2023, the Council confirmed me as the new Director for the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) and I want to take a moment to express my absolute gratitude and appreciation.

First and foremost, I am incredibly grateful to our Mayor, Muriel Bowser, for her remarkable leadership and for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading DACL and advocating for all of you. It is an honor that I do not take lightly. I would also like to extend my thanks to the DACL staff, my community, my family, and my friends who have supported me throughout this journey. Your encouragement and belief in me have been instrumental.

To all the seniors who showed up and showed out at my confirmation hearing, those who testified in-person, virtually, and those who submitted written testimony, I cannot express enough gratitude. Your support meant the world to me, and I am humbled by your presence. I also want to acknowledge those who could not be there but sent me well wishes. Your kind words filled me with joy and reinforced my commitment to serve.

As we embark on this new journey together, I want you to know that serving you is an absolute honor. My dedication to older adults, adults with disabilities, and those who care for them remains unwavering. However, I cannot do this work alone. The team at DACL and I rely on your involvement and input to make a meaningful impact. Therefore, when we cross paths this summer, I encourage you to connect with us. Let’s talk about what’s working and what’s not working. Share with us the things that are great and the things that are not so great. By staying engaged and keeping the conversation going, we can ensure that DACL, as well as the entire District Government, better serves YOU!

Once again, thank you for your unwavering support throughout this journey. I eagerly look forward to the great work that lies ahead, and I am committed to making a positive difference in the lives of seniors and adults with disabilities in our community.

In Service, Charon P.W. Hines