Outreach: Services to Elders

Helping older adults 55+ live independent and fulfilling lives

Outreach Services to Elders provides seniors 55 years or older with significant vision loss training within their home and classes at the Elder Learning Center. Seniors make up the fastest growing population of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, so the demand for services tailored to their needs is greater than ever.

Download our 10 Tips for Protecting Your Vision.  

In the Community: Outreach Services to Elders

Perkins Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT) visit people ages 55+ in their homes for a free evaluation, to answer questions, provide information and offer training on helpful adaptive techniques to provide individuals with the skills needed to confidently navigate everyday routines.

Skills taught can include cooking, personal care, clothing care, home safety, reading & writing, handling money and walking indoors and outdoors. These personalized services are tailored to the individual within their home, apartment or other living environment. Our CVRTs also have the time, skills and availability to work with clients on lifetime leisure activities and to help them be comfortable in community, social, and recreational settings. The Living Independently with Vision Loss training includes cooking, personal care and grooming skills, home management, low vision utilization, communication skills, orientation and mobility skills, and recreation.

The fees for our in-home care are very reasonable and can fit into to most budgets. A free evaluation is provided to introduce clients and families to the wide array of potential services and to identify specific needs of the individual. For the home based services, we serve the towns inside of 128.  The fee varies by town and ranges from $35-$50 an hour. Fees for the Elder Learning Center vary according to the class.

On Campus: The Perkins Elder Learning Center

The Elder Learning Center (ELC), located on the Perkins campus, offers an adult education model of training for boomers and seniors with vision loss. While many of the on-campus services and training sessions are similar to those that seniors can receive at home, the group setting allows seniors to learn from each other as well as the teachers. They participate in six- to ten-week courses such as gardening, crafts, yoga, historical walking tours, and adapted cooking techniques or can participate in an ongoing book club. View the Elder Learning Center 2008 Winter Sessions.

Training for Caregivers & Community Groups

Perkins Specialists provide training to caregivers including family members, friends and other supportive people involved in an elder's life.  Group workshops are also available to the staff and volunteers at assistive living centers, nursing homes, senior centers, councils on aging and other community organizations. We provide an Understanding Vision Loss in Elders training for adult children, family members and other caregivers so they can reinforce the skills learned by the elder with vision loss.

For More Information

Our location: We are located in the Northeast Building. Coming from Watertown Sq on North Beacon St. you drive past the main entrance to the school and turn right at the light onto Beechwood Ave. Take an immediate right into the main parking lot. As you pull into that lot, we are the building directly in front of you.

For more information about services for elders, email Outreach@Perkins.org or call Debby Smith at 617-972-7643.