The second Monday of each month, the Senior Lounge is reserved for our Lo/No Vision support group. Learning, ideas, laughter, and friendship float around the room. "Yes, I can" prevails!
The inspiration for this group came from an outraged older adult who had met isolated, discouraged seniors at the regional eye institute. She "demanded" that the Senior Coordinator "do something".
A group of three people attended a formative meeting. They suggest areas the group might concentrate on: transportation, isolation, and information.
Our first six months of meetings were conducted by professionals from the local Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired. They imparted a message of empowerment to everyone. A lunch time trip to the Association was a great morale booster! Speakers from the County Office for the Blind, a visually impaired business woman, the Regional Library for the Blind, Bingo, a police officer, a blind musician, a trip to a local tourist attraction, a holiday party, a day trip to a conference for those with visual impairment - all of these things have forged a cohesive group of friends.
We have graduated to twenty-three members who encompass Senior Center participants and those with vision problems in a nearby assisted living facility.
The second Monday of each month, our visually impaired friends (who have been called by Julia, "the blind chick") come laughing from the Senior Bus. They attend their meeting, eat lunch in the dining room, then leave with a smile on their faces looking forward to the next second Monday.
For additional information about this program, please contact Louise Schmidt at (262) 255-8468.
