New Vision’s Support Services, one of the pillars of our mission, address the social, mental, emotional, and physical needs to empower visually impaired people to be well. Also, called our Wellness Program, these services are open to anyone with a visual impairment. Unlike our vision rehabilitation services, participants are not required to enroll through the Florida Division of Blind Services and do not have to reside within our service area (Lake, Sumter, The Villages).
Through a mix of in-person and over-the-phone offerings, people with vision loss have support as they navigate their journeys in this “new normal”:
Adjustment to blindness
- Weekly by-phone support groups, providing
- Access to information about their ailment, community resources,
- Peer support to increase connection and reduce isolation,
- Grief support to address the many losses accompanying vision loss, aging, and more
- Weekly by-phone brain boosting games and activities, including puzzles, trivia, riddles, memory games, and bingo, to help reduce cognitive decline, increase connection, and reduce isolation.
- One-on-one peer counseling to the visually impaired individual and affected family members as needed/appropriate (not mental health counseling or therapy)
- Weekly meditation sessions
Exercise
According to the CDC, only 25% of adults get the recommended level of physical activity, and it only gets worse with age. This number is even lower for people with visual disabilities, due to limited access to adapted programming. This means our vulnerable population isn’t receiving the plentiful benefits of physical activity, such as preventing falls, reducing the risk of death from major health scares, improved stamina, improving mental health, and reducing pain.
- 7 live, by-phone exercise classes every week, aimed at adults/seniors, taught by a certified personal trainer
Nutrition
Disability is one of the strongest risk factors for food insecurity due to lack of access, both monetary and physical, to fresh vegetables and challenges shopping and cooking.
- Emphasis on “healthier” options, versus the subjective “healthy” – especially including more plants into the diet – whenever possible, and
- Monthly in-person nutrition group that learns about Dr. Gregor’s “Daily Dozen” from the book How Not to Die – includes taste tests, a freshly-prepared meal, and the groceries and a simplified recipe to re-create at home.
Recreation
- Weekly by-phone bingo games to help reduce cognitive decline, increase connection, and reduce isolation.
- Winners receive $5 Amazon/Publix gift cards (distributed monthly)
- Monthly in-person outings such as bowling, restaurants, ceramics, and more
Family/Caregiver Participation
Companions/caregivers are an important part of the New Vision family and are invited to many of our by-phone sessions, whenever appropriate for the group. Unless otherwise indicated, in-person are open to anyone with a visual impairment and companion/caregivers. Please indicate the total number of folks when you RSVP to make sure we have enough space, food, staff, etc.
Support Services Calendar
Checkout our Google Calendar for support services. You can add a session to your calendar straight from here!
Feedback Welcome
If you have a support group speaker, topic, activity, or request, contact Lisa at LFisher@newvisionfl.org or complete the form below: