Community Living Campaign

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

vision loss

Finding Solutions to Changes in Our Vision: Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Virtual)

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Many of us experience changes in our vision as we get older, but we may not know who can help us navigate those changes. In San Francisco, we are fortunate to have the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired as a resource. Lighthouse is committed to improving the independence, equality, and self-reliance for individuals who are blind and facing changes in their vision. Join Sheri Albers from Lighthouse to learn about the many services they have specifically for adults over the age of 55.

HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT:

To join by phone, dial 888-475-4499 (toll free) or 669-900-6833 (local). Enter Meeting ID: 865 6747 4200, then press # twice.
To join with video, click this link: https://zoom.us/j/86567474200 to register and join. Wait in the “waiting room” until the activity is ready to start.

To create a friendly environment and minimize interruptions, we will close the activity to new participants 15 minutes after the start time. The above link will work on your tablet or your computer. You’ll be prompted to download a Zoom app the first time you use Zoom. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you can join from your web browser without using the Zoom software.

Reducing Barriers for Those with Vision and Hearing Loss

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United Way of the Bay Area’s Francis Goldsmith Fund has helped CLC Vision and Hearing Initiative enrich its work – building community-based and online networks.  The goal is  support for isolated and at-risk seniors and people with disabilities, reducing  the consequences of hearing and vision loss, and helping to ensure that their psychosocial, physical and communication needs are met.

Through our partnerships with the 10 Adult Day Services Centers, assistive aids and equipment were purchased to :(1) provide individual assistance for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities; (2) maintain independent ability to get proper nutrition; (3) rebuild self-confidence through easier access to group socialization activities and (4) computer tutoring; and (5) enhance the safety and mobility to seniors with vision and/or hearing disabilities.

The grant from the Francis Goldsmith Fund enables the Community Living Campaign to showcase assistive technologies and provide training on strategies for living with hearing or vision loss to all of our programs for seniors and people with disabilities. As this work continues, attention is increasingly being given to the development of outcome targets that represent significant changes in the lives of those that benefit.

Over the past year, we have chocked up a solid list of  Initiative accomplishments which support our seniors and persons who experience vision and hearing loss:

Partnership at Adult Day Services (ADS):

 85 seniors served with grant-purchased equipment & devices:

Over 200 Personal Assistive aids and equipment worth over $6,000 through direct requests from the ten Adult Day Services centers’ staff (occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, social workers, activities coordinators, directors) for low-income and frail seniors to enhance social engagement, increase independence & reduce isolation and loneliness.

100 seniors and caregivers trained on accessible computers:

In eight ADS centers, 108 seniors have received training and support on accessible desktop computers provided through CLC’s partnership with the Dept. of Aging and Adult Services SF  Connected Program, and on iPads/Tablets with accessibility features and Apps purchased with Goldsmith funding.

12  volunteers and ADS staff members provide volunteer almost 700 hours of computer training in English, Russian, Chinese & Spanish.

Hearing Loss 101 Presentation & Screenings:

In  our Community Connector neighborhoods, we facilitated four Hearing Loss presentations and three hearing screenings.  This resulted in 24 individuals having their hearing tested by the Speech and Hearing Center. Participants also learn about hearing- and vision-related assistive device and strategies that helps seniors remain connected.

Participants in Midtown Terrace Commnity Connector network learn about free specialized phones and mobile phone accessories through the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP).

Emergency Preparedness Focus on Vision & Hearing Loss:

 CLC, in partnership with Community Youth Center-SF (CYC-SF) held our first Emergency Preparedness Academy with CLC staff and Community Connectors. We completed 4 courses in personal preparedness at home, traveling or at work, response and recovery during and after a catastrophic disaster and fire safety and basic first aid. These sessions were made possible through funding from the Department of Building Inspection’s Seismic Safety Outreach Program (SSOP) 

In the fall of 2018, a class of seniors from IT Bookman Senior Center in the OMI neighborhood attended the Emergency Preparedness Academy. Graduates received Emergency Preparedness bags (“Go Bags”) and certificates of completion.

If you would like more information about the program and how it could come to your neighborhood, please contact Sherri Sawyer, Program Director, at sherri@sfcommunityliving.org or by calling (415) 821-1003 ex. 111