Information & Resources to support older adults
with blindness or Low Vision
The Aging & Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC), a division of VisionServe Alliance, provides information and toolkits to help health care professionals better understand and help older people who are blind or visually impaired.
A National Problem
- Nearly half of all people aged 65+ in the United States already have at least one of the following eye conditions:
- GlaucomaDiabetic Retinopathy
- Macular Degeneration
- In the past five years, longitudinal studies have shown that 60% of adults aged 65+ are living with severe vision loss.
- According to the National Health Survey, only a small percent of these individuals receives vision rehabilitation services.
The AVLNC Service Provider Toolkit:
- Identifies the multiple impacts of vision loss on every aspect of providing services to older adults.
- Helps the older person see improved outcomes when vision loss is identified and accommodations are included in treatment, whether it be:
- in home health, residential services, hospital, and hospital discharge planning, occupational or physical therapy, recreation, mental health services, retirement planning, insurance, legal/guardianship, and all manner of multi-faceted services.
- Facilitates best practices among all who work with older adults with a functional assessment leading to individual service/treatment plans leading to maximum quality of life.
- Click to access the toolkit!
Access the only studies providing comprehensive descriptions of older people with vision impairment at the state and county levels in one document.
- Provides state-level data on the prevalence of blindness and low vision among people aged 65 years and older for many states with a goal to release reports for all US States.
- Includes the prevalence and types of chronic conditions, QOL, disability, and social determinants of health measures among older people, including those with vision loss.
- Includes data sets from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Learn more about the Big Data Project at: visionservealliance.org/big-data-insights
AVLNC Theory of Change
Access the full document at: : AVLNC Theory of Change_Accessible (003) revised 10.30.20.pdf
Information on eye conditions, including age-related eye diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and more.
Eye Conditions and Diseases | National Eye Institute (nih.gov)
Understanding Vision Loss:
Signs and Symptoms of Vision Problems – VisionAware
What Is Legal Blindness? – VisionAware
What Is Low Vision? – VisionAware
Vision Rehabilitation Services – VisionAware
For people facing vision loss and their family members:
Time To Be Bold – Independent living for older adults with vision impairment
This program connects older adults with online resources, copy strategies, and a hotline to call for support. Visit: https://timetobebold.org/
4to24 App – 4to24 is a mobile app created to help youth with blindness or vision loss, and their parents, focus on the necessary steps to prepare for employment and independent living. A version for parents of youth with deaf-blindness and additional disabilities is also available. Learn more at: https://www.ntac.blind.msstate.edu/consumers/4-24-app
Getting Started 2020: A Guide for People New to Vision Loss – VisionAware
What Family Members Need to Know about Vision Loss and Its Impact – VisionAware
Resource List for Caregivers of Individuals with Vision Loss – VisionAware
Vision Simulation Video – VisionAware
The Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC) needs talented volunteers to advance our life-changing work. It’s an ideal opportunity to volunteer yourself or nominate someone from your team for one of our AVLNC committees:
- Access to Quality Services Committee
- Data and Research Committee
- Policy and Funding Committee
- Public Awareness Committee
Contact:
Libby Murphy
Director, Program Development
VisionServe Alliance
lmurphy@visionservealliance.org
318.401.3350
VisionServe Alliance
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