DON’T SHUN THE CANE! Cane Use Benefits Older Adults after Small Reduction in Visual Acuity

Dr. Massof’s Lecture – podcast

This link takes you to a fantastic and important lecture given by Dr. Robert Massof about a project that aims to increase the use of the long cane among older adults with visual impairments. He also reveals how Medicare is “blind” to those with low vision in their policy decisions.

Within this lecture Dr. Massof provides important statistics. For example, even a small decrease in visual acuity (VA) triples the rate of injury and death by trauma/accident in older adults.

Love this Dog Guide using, Senior Adult Couple!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVnTrx7kh9s&feature=related

This is great advertising for how seniors love gaining these essential skills! But you definitely need a qualified O&M Specialist to get these results!!

The risks associated with vision loss in adulthood have long been known

Mobility is also usually affected by visual impairment in late adulthood. There is a strong relationship between impaired vision and increased risk of accidents, particularly falls (Evans & Rowlands, 2004; Horowitz & Reinhardt, 2000). In a study of the community-travel habits and perceptions of a sample of 32 visually impaired elderly people and their sighted peers, Long and colleagues (1996) reported infrequent independent travel in the community among those with vision loss. In addition, the vast majority of these respondents with visual impairment (75 percent) were relatively dissatisfied with their ability to travel independently and with the number of opportunities they had to leave their homes in comparison with their sighted peers.

http://www.allbusiness.com/government/health-regulations/4106237-1.html