MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
A.897/S.522
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to establishing a senior vision services program
Lighthouse International strongly supports A.897/S.522, which will establish a Senior Vision Services in the State Office for the Aging. The program will allow elderly New Yorkers who are experiencing vision loss to receive the highly specialized care and services they need to maintain their independence. Many people with vision impairments do not realize the severity of the situation and do not seek care and this bill will increase the number of adults receiving the proper care and rehabilitative services that they need. We applaud the Assembly for unanimously passing the bill and urge the Senate to follow suit and approve the bill before the legislative session ends.
Approximately 1 in 5 adults over the age of 65 report either moderate or severe impaired vision. Age-related eye diseases are more prevalent as a person ages, affecting 26% of adults over the age of 75. The elderly population is the fastest growing segment of the population today as the Baby Boomers age and medical and technological advancements extend the life-expectancy of an older person.
Vision loss among older New Yorkers costs the state not only through an individual's loss of independence but also through the co-morbidities and health issues correlated with eye-diseases. Older adults with vision impairments have a higher chance of injuring themselves or suffering through depression compared to older adults who do not have impaired vision.
This legislation will certainly enhance the lives of the millions of New Yorkers experiencing vision loss, allowing them to maintain their independence and therefore to live safer and healthier lives. We strongly implore the Senate to follow the leadership of the Assembly and pass this powerful bill.
Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN
President & CEO
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit rehabilitative health care organization that helps people of all ages who are at risk for, or are experiencing, vision loss. We provide services, research and education, and advocate to help people with low vision and blindness live safe, independent and productive lives.