Back In Focus
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Princess Frush has put aside books, newspapers and magazines and most of her family photos. Not because she wants to but because she cannot see them.
While she is not totally without vision - she can see objects at a distance - the 87-year-old has the "dry" form of macular degeneration. The world has become dim and somewhat out of focus. Frush still goes about her business, however, with low-vision tools provided through an Independent Living Services grant and with the help of Dan Olsen of the Association for the Disabled of Elkhart County.
Olsen assesses problems and offers solutions.
"We're not walking in and saying they have to do this," he said. "I ask what the problems are and make suggestions and adaptations."
The purpose of the project is to provide information and direct services to help people compensate for vision loss. They remain independent and less dependent on others.
Olsen introduces kitchen aids such as a liquid level indicator, a boil control devise or a pot strainer. He does little, detailed things like marking the stove so the cooks know where the 350-degree mark is.
He'll mark the microwave, too, and bring in long, fire-resistant oven mitts to prevent burns.
"The whole idea is safety with most of these items so no one gets burned or hurt," Olsen said.
In other areas of the house a talking clock, wristwatch or calculator may be in order. Hand-held and lighted, stand magnifiers are also available.
The tools are free.
The time Olsen spends with individuals is paid through a federally- and state-funded program administered by the Indiana Department of Human Services.
Olsen spends at least one day a week in Kosciusko County. He meets with Senior Insight, a support group comprising lively 80-year-olds at the Senior Citizens Center, the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
Olsen gets a hard time there.
"When we first met him we wanted to adopt him," Lillian Vogt joked. "After we got to know him a while we decided against that."
At the October meeting Olsen introduced the Descriptive Home Video (DHS) program to approximately seven people in attendance.
DHS videos have voice-overs describing the scene, facial expressions and movements of actors when there is no dialogue. They can be ordered through local libraries.
Olsen also teaches braille. Braille books and magazines are available through the Library of Congress. Braille, a system of raised dots, is a tactile alphabet.
"Some seniors have taken up computers and use zoom text to enlarge the type enough to read. Scanners can download text, too, and a "voice" will read what is on the screen."
Vision loss is frustrating.
"I have to have patience working with people. You can't just process them like you can a car in a factory," Olsen said.
Olsen has a master's degree in blind rehabilitation teaching from Western Michigan University.
Olsen's clients may have hearing loss, too. In the case of vision loss because of diabetes there are other "losses," too. He has to work with all the limitations.
"Often I lay things aside and just let them talk. You have to give them a chance to vent. I try to keep the door open, to see how they feel. That's definitely part of the job," he said.
Frush, a poet, agrees.
"I almost gave up writing because I would write over the line I just wrote," she said. She has copy paper marked with heavy lines to continue her correspondence.
Her bank ledger is laid out on large sheets of paper and she uses a talking calculator to figure a balance.
Also available through her financial institution are large checks with raised lines.
"I want everyone to know about Dan and these services," Frush said. "I think there are a lot of people out there who don't know about it and could really use the help."
The services are provided by need, not income, and there is a waiting list.
The Association for the Disabled of Elkhart County serves Elkhart, St. Joseph, LaPorte, Kosciusko and Marshall counties.
Persons are eligible for services if they are age 55 or older; live in Elkhart, St. Joseph, LaPorte, Kosciusko or Marshall counties; and experience vision loss to the degree reading newsprint is not possible with conventional glasses.
Services offered include information, referral and counseling; agency-based and in- home instruction in the areas of skills training in handwriting, typing braille and other means of communication; training to perform daily living skills such as cooking, laundry, locating dropped objects, etc.; pre-cane training and full instruction in use of the long cane, depending on the consumer's needs; low-vision services which could include referral to a low vision specialist; low vision aids and training; family and peer counseling; and other appropriate services as needed.
For more information contact Northern Indiana Independent Living Services, 702 Williams St., Elkhart, IN 46516-3802 or call 293-7506.
Some Causes of Vision Loss
The leading causes of new blindness among older adults are cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Many older adults have more than one of these conditions at the same time.
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens preventing light from reaching the back of the eye. Age-related cataracts generally develop in both eyes, often at different rates. Cataracts are not preventable. Symptoms may include blurred or distorted vision, a need for increased levels of light, a need to hold objects closer to get them in focus or gradual loss of color vision.
Glaucoma results from an increase in pressure in the eye which damages the retina and optic nerve. Glaucoma cannot be prevented. If it is detected early enough and treated promptly, it is usually controllable with medications or surgery. The most common type of glaucoma develops gradually with no sign of discomfort until significant peripheral or side vision is lost.
Macular degeneration results from a breakdown of the part of the retina responsible for central vision - the macula. It does not affect peripheral vision. The symptoms of macular degeneration include dim colors, a dark or empty area in the center of vision, or straight lines that look distorted. More than 13 million people have this disease.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. More than three million people over age 65 have diabetes. Poor control of blood sugar levels contributes directly to the development of vision loss. [[In-content Ad]]
Princess Frush has put aside books, newspapers and magazines and most of her family photos. Not because she wants to but because she cannot see them.
While she is not totally without vision - she can see objects at a distance - the 87-year-old has the "dry" form of macular degeneration. The world has become dim and somewhat out of focus. Frush still goes about her business, however, with low-vision tools provided through an Independent Living Services grant and with the help of Dan Olsen of the Association for the Disabled of Elkhart County.
Olsen assesses problems and offers solutions.
"We're not walking in and saying they have to do this," he said. "I ask what the problems are and make suggestions and adaptations."
The purpose of the project is to provide information and direct services to help people compensate for vision loss. They remain independent and less dependent on others.
Olsen introduces kitchen aids such as a liquid level indicator, a boil control devise or a pot strainer. He does little, detailed things like marking the stove so the cooks know where the 350-degree mark is.
He'll mark the microwave, too, and bring in long, fire-resistant oven mitts to prevent burns.
"The whole idea is safety with most of these items so no one gets burned or hurt," Olsen said.
In other areas of the house a talking clock, wristwatch or calculator may be in order. Hand-held and lighted, stand magnifiers are also available.
The tools are free.
The time Olsen spends with individuals is paid through a federally- and state-funded program administered by the Indiana Department of Human Services.
Olsen spends at least one day a week in Kosciusko County. He meets with Senior Insight, a support group comprising lively 80-year-olds at the Senior Citizens Center, the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
Olsen gets a hard time there.
"When we first met him we wanted to adopt him," Lillian Vogt joked. "After we got to know him a while we decided against that."
At the October meeting Olsen introduced the Descriptive Home Video (DHS) program to approximately seven people in attendance.
DHS videos have voice-overs describing the scene, facial expressions and movements of actors when there is no dialogue. They can be ordered through local libraries.
Olsen also teaches braille. Braille books and magazines are available through the Library of Congress. Braille, a system of raised dots, is a tactile alphabet.
"Some seniors have taken up computers and use zoom text to enlarge the type enough to read. Scanners can download text, too, and a "voice" will read what is on the screen."
Vision loss is frustrating.
"I have to have patience working with people. You can't just process them like you can a car in a factory," Olsen said.
Olsen has a master's degree in blind rehabilitation teaching from Western Michigan University.
Olsen's clients may have hearing loss, too. In the case of vision loss because of diabetes there are other "losses," too. He has to work with all the limitations.
"Often I lay things aside and just let them talk. You have to give them a chance to vent. I try to keep the door open, to see how they feel. That's definitely part of the job," he said.
Frush, a poet, agrees.
"I almost gave up writing because I would write over the line I just wrote," she said. She has copy paper marked with heavy lines to continue her correspondence.
Her bank ledger is laid out on large sheets of paper and she uses a talking calculator to figure a balance.
Also available through her financial institution are large checks with raised lines.
"I want everyone to know about Dan and these services," Frush said. "I think there are a lot of people out there who don't know about it and could really use the help."
The services are provided by need, not income, and there is a waiting list.
The Association for the Disabled of Elkhart County serves Elkhart, St. Joseph, LaPorte, Kosciusko and Marshall counties.
Persons are eligible for services if they are age 55 or older; live in Elkhart, St. Joseph, LaPorte, Kosciusko or Marshall counties; and experience vision loss to the degree reading newsprint is not possible with conventional glasses.
Services offered include information, referral and counseling; agency-based and in- home instruction in the areas of skills training in handwriting, typing braille and other means of communication; training to perform daily living skills such as cooking, laundry, locating dropped objects, etc.; pre-cane training and full instruction in use of the long cane, depending on the consumer's needs; low-vision services which could include referral to a low vision specialist; low vision aids and training; family and peer counseling; and other appropriate services as needed.
For more information contact Northern Indiana Independent Living Services, 702 Williams St., Elkhart, IN 46516-3802 or call 293-7506.
Some Causes of Vision Loss
The leading causes of new blindness among older adults are cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Many older adults have more than one of these conditions at the same time.
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens preventing light from reaching the back of the eye. Age-related cataracts generally develop in both eyes, often at different rates. Cataracts are not preventable. Symptoms may include blurred or distorted vision, a need for increased levels of light, a need to hold objects closer to get them in focus or gradual loss of color vision.
Glaucoma results from an increase in pressure in the eye which damages the retina and optic nerve. Glaucoma cannot be prevented. If it is detected early enough and treated promptly, it is usually controllable with medications or surgery. The most common type of glaucoma develops gradually with no sign of discomfort until significant peripheral or side vision is lost.
Macular degeneration results from a breakdown of the part of the retina responsible for central vision - the macula. It does not affect peripheral vision. The symptoms of macular degeneration include dim colors, a dark or empty area in the center of vision, or straight lines that look distorted. More than 13 million people have this disease.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. More than three million people over age 65 have diabetes. Poor control of blood sugar levels contributes directly to the development of vision loss. [[In-content Ad]]