Making a Difference: Social Isolation, Vision, Hearing and Falls Prevention and Vision

D1: Panel Discussion: Making a Difference: Social Isolation, Vision, Hearing and Falls Prevention and Vision

Making a Difference: Social Isolation, Vision, Hearing and Falls Prevention

The National Academy of Sciences recently published; “Social Isolation and Loneliness in Oder Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System” illustrating how vision and hearing loss are conditions that can lead to increased loneliness and isolation. Our presentation will focus on how to increase participation in your evidence-based fall prevention programs like A Matter of Balance for older adults living with vision and hearing challenges. According to the Center for Disease Control one in four Americans age 65 and older experiences a fall each year. Impaired vision more than doubles this risk. Hearing loss is also a risk factor for falls. According to ASHA that risk increases 140% for every 10 decibels of hearing loss. In order to include adults living with these two common conditions incorporating supports to your falls prevention programming is essential and can provide ways to reduce fall risk and build inclusivity.

Kirsten Dorsey, OTR/L

Valerie Biediger, MEd, MS

In this session, participants will be able to:

• Experience vision and hearing loss through a simulator in order to understand how changes in eye function, sight and hearing impact participation in group programming.
• Identify strategies by Bexar Area Agency on Aging supporting individuals with vision and/or hearing loss in A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls programs.
• Formulate a plan to increase participation of older adults with vision and/or hearing loss into their evidence-based falls prevention

Vision Loss Later in Life: As Public Health Crisis

Losing vision later in life is an overlooked yet rapidly growing public health crisis. This session will discuss the work of the Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC) established to address this crisis and to bring about systems change including the population data to support it.

Pris Rogers, PhD

Katie Frederick

Kendra Farrow, MS, VRT

In this session, participants will be able to:

• Discuss major issues affecting older people who are blind or living with low vision in this country.
• Describe how to find resources and use data and information provided during the session to serve older people adjusting to blindness or limited vision.
• Identify the components of vision rehabilitation services, how they are delivered nationwide, and how older people can access and benefit from them.

• Learning Objective 1: Experience vision and hearing loss through a simulator in order to understand how changes in eye function, sight and hearing impact participation in group programming.
• Learning Objective 2: Identify strategies by Bexar Area Agency on Aging supporting individuals with vision and/or hearing loss in A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls programs.
• Learning Objective 3: Formulate a plan to increase participation of older adults with vision and/or hearing loss into their evidence-based falls prevention programs as class leaders and participants.