Redefining Independence Group Trainings for Older Adults
One of the greatest public health issues facing the older adult population is social isolation. For older adults experiencing vision loss, that issue is amplified due to additional limitations caused by a lack of training in how to access community resources and adaptive techniques for living independently.
Solving this need, VISIONS Rehabilitation professionals developed their Redefining Independence Program!
What are the Redefining Independence Trainings?
VISIONS Redefining Independence group trainings are designed to provide instruction for older adults (age 55 and over) living with vision loss, in the areas of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy, which include:
- Personal Management
- Home Management
- Communication Skills
- Meal Management
- Financial Management
- Assistive Technology
- Recreation and Community Resources
Instruction for all trainings is provided by one of VISIONS Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (VRTs). Following each group training session, participants will receive follow-up instruction in their home from one of VISIONS VRTs, and may also be referred for additional services if necessary, such as: Orientation & Mobility training, Social Work Services, or a referral to a low vision specialist.
VISIONS is able to provide transportation to all participants not registered with their local paratransit service to all trainings.
Program Variations:
Day Sessions at VISIONS Older Adult Center
Where: VISIONS Older Adult Center
135 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
When: Once weekly for five weeks, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Lunch is provided
Eligible Participants: Participants must be 55 years or older, not working, or retired. Participants must also meet the requirements for legal blindness, and a copy of their most recent eye report is required to determine eligibility. A family member is also welcome to attend the group with each participant.
Program Overview: Over the course of five sessions, participants will receive instruction in all areas of Vision Rehabilitation from one of VISIONS certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, while having the opportunity to meet and engage with others experiencing vision loss. Participants spend the morning learning, then socializing over the included Older Adult Center lunch, and finally, ending the day with one more learning session.
Day Sessions in the Community
Where: We are looking for Older Adult Centers that are interested in bringing the Redefining Independence program to older adults in their neighborhood
When: Once weekly for five weeks, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM.
Eligible Participants: Participants must be 55 years or older, not working, or retired. Participants must also meet the requirements for legal blindness, and a copy of their most recent eye report is required to determine eligibility. A family member is also welcome to attend the group with each participant.
Program Overview: Over the course of five sessions, participants will receive instruction in all areas of Vision Rehabilitation from one of VISIONS Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, while having the opportunity to meet and engage with others experiencing vision loss. Participants spend the morning learning, then socializing over lunch, and finally, ending the day with one more learning session.
Residential Sessions at VISIONS Center on Blindness
Where: VISIONS Center on Blindness:
111 Summit Park Rd
Spring Valley, NY 10977
When: Five days and four nights – Overnight residential program.
Eligible Participants: Participants must be 55 years or older, not working, or retired. Participants must also meet the requirements for legal blindness, and a copy of their most recent eye report is required to determine eligibility. A family member is also welcome to attend the group with each participant.
Program Overview: Over the course of five days and four nights, participants will receive instruction in all areas of Vision Rehabilitation from one of VISIONS Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, while having the opportunity to meet and engage with others experiencing vision loss. Participants will spend the days engaging in instructional sessions, while the evenings will be full of adaptive recreational activities and social opportunities. All meals included.
What Participants Are Saying
I was nervous in the beginning ... I didn’t know what it would be like to be sitting around a table with everyone else. I found it to be a rewarding experience because many of those people were able to share how I felt.
– Joe, Redefining Independence at VISIONS program participant
What was nice about the group was the sense of companionship … That everyone had the same problems … And that gave me a sort of confidence knowing that I’m not alone in this situation, there are others and looking how they deal with it and knowing I can deal with it too.
– Lisa, Redefining Independence Community Program participant
The seven women in the group, they touched my heart. They shared things with me … That made me feel like life goes on after blindness and there is hope.
– Angela, Redefining Independence Residential Program participant
Ready to Get Started?
If you would like to learn more about this program, are interested in participating, or if you are a Community Center or Older Adult Center interested in hosting one of VISIONS Redefining Independence Group Trainings, please contact:
Cathleen McGuire
Senior Director of Rehabilitation and Outreach
(212) 625-1274
cmcguire@visionsvcb.org