NEW YORK—Lighthouse Guild, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, has announced it received a $32,000 grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind for a new program supporting older adults who are navigating age-related vision loss. Developed in partnership with Health Advocates for Older People, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting healthy aging, the initiative is designed to promote early detection, education, and individualized support for older adults experiencing age-related vision loss. According to the announcement, the condition affects one in three adults over the age of 60, yet often goes unaddressed until it significantly impacts mobility, safety, and quality of life.
“Age-related vision loss is incredibly common, but it doesn’t have to be isolating,” said Maggie Walters, director of outreach and support programs at Lighthouse Guild. “This initiative is about making sure older New Yorkers have the information, the tools, and the support they need to stay safe and independent—ideally long before vision loss becomes a crisis.”
The program will be implemented through a three-tiered approach: staff and instructor training at Health Advocates to build organizational capacity for recognizing and responding to vision decline; interactive community education workshops for older adults on eye health; and individualized assessments and follow-up sessions for older adults referred through the program, paired with in-home safety consultations to support independence, the announcement noted.
“Health Advocates has a long history of working in partnership with other community organizations, and we are excited about this partnership,” said Laura Colin Klein, executive director of Health Advocates. “We are enthusiastic about sharing essential information about vision loss and rehabilitation services to promote health and well-being of our members and to supporting more older adults with vision loss through our services.”
This collaboration brings together Health Advocates’ three decades of trusted community relationships with Lighthouse Guild’s nationally recognized expertise in helping people experiencing vision loss live independently, the announcement stated, including the only specialized adult day health care program for people with vision loss in New York State.
“The Lavelle Fund for the Blind is delighted to support this collaborative initiative between two of New York City’s finest agencies serving older adults in the community,” said Susan Olivo, executive director and CEO, Lavelle Fund for the Blind. “The intersection between aging and vision loss is significant, and with limited funding available for this population, there is a huge need for more intersectional support programs that help older adults with vision loss remain independent and safe in their environments. We sincerely hope this becomes a model for future service delivery.”
