A Real Life Success Story: Strategies for Life, Living Well with Vision Loss
By Renee Man, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
May 1, 2008
Over the past several months this column has been used to discuss solutions for common problems caused by vision loss. This month we would like to discuss ways that these tips and solutions have helped real seniors live fuller and happier lives.
One of the most dramatic success stories I have witnessed happened with a client named Agnes*. At 94 years old, Agnes had failing health and failing vision but a sharp mind. She called me looking for ways that she could continue to remain mentally active. During an assessment Agnes revealed that she had been a seamstress for most of her life, even sewing wedding dresses for her daughters. During a recent on-campus adult education course taught at Perkins we had adapted techniques to teach our visually impaired clients to sew a simple quilt. I began working with Agnes using the same techniques. In order to sew a straight line we used tactile tape so that she could feel where her seams should go. We used self threading needles that she was able to thread independently. Her work area was set up with a good light and she learned to put a contrasting piece of material under the piece she was working on to give her the best chance to see it. All of these adaptations allowed Agnes to sew not one, but seven quilts- one for each of her great-grandchildren. Her entire family was thrilled to see her sewing again and Agnes found happiness in her productivity.
Not all cases are so dramatic. One of the first clients I ever worked with as a Rehabilitation Specialist had lost significant vision due to a stroke. His wife, who was his caregiver, reported that her husband had a lot of trouble eating. She showed me his place at the kitchen table. He had a dark plate on a dark placemat on a dark tablecloth. I encouraged her to serve him lighter foods on a darker plate and vice versa. I also suggested she vary the placemat color to contrast with the plate. She called back to report that her husband could now eat on his own again. For this particular family, that one small success made a big difference.
Most successes we encounter are somewhere in between these two extremes. The client who comes out to a class at Perkins and makes new friends after years of being isolated with vision loss. The man who learns to cook simple meals for himself after his wife has done the cooking for the last 50 years. The woman who lost her vision years ago who finds the confidence to use adapted aids to write her checks and gain back some financial independence. While none of these successes may seem dramatic, the changes they made in the lives of these people has had a profound effect on each of them and also their families. Training leads to increased independence which leads to increased self confidence and enjoyment of life!
*Names have been changed.
Perkins Outreach Services for Ages 55 and Older, Outreach@Perkins.org, 617-972-7643