United Hospital Fund Provides $75,000 Grant to Lighthouse International for its Geriatric Center of Excellence
Further Information:
Leslie Gottlieb
212-821-9760
For Immediate Release
New York ...The United Hospital Fund has approved a one-year $75,000 Health Care Improvement grant to Lighthouse International for its Geriatric Center of Excellence. The UHF states in its award letter, "The grant is to improve the quality of vision care for older people by developing enhanced services and programs and by reaching elderly clients in the community "
According to Tara A. Cortes, RN, PhD, President and CEO of Lighthouse International, "This is the first grant United Hospital Fund has provided us. It provides important funding for our new Geriatric Center of Excellence, which will enable us to improve the quality of vision care for the rapidly growing number of vulnerable, elderly people in Manhattan and the boroughs". She adds, "This critical grant, in addition to the support we have received from other New York foundations, means we will be able to offer more services to elderly clients."
According to Lighthouse International's research, there are an estimated 198,000 visually impaired older adults living in New York City. Many of these people do not have access to vision care, even though there is a clear need for low vision services. Furthermore, vision loss is one of the leading causes of disability and loss of independence among older adults and puts the elderly at high risk for accidents, falls and injuries, inside and outside the home.
"Lighthouse International's Geriatric Center of Excellence will provide an integrated approach to the patient's needs and keep them safe and independent at home - not in a nursing home," states Dr. Cortes. It will feature a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals who will evaluate a person's vision loss in the context of other medical conditions, such as stroke, arthritis or osteoporosis. Providing medical and social services, this multi-disciplinary team will include optometrists, ophthalmologists, a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, nurses, certified occupational therapists, and certified orientation and mobility specialists.
Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to preserving vision and to providing critically needed healthcare services to help people of all ages overcome the challenges of vision loss. Through services, education, research and advocacy, the Lighthouse enables people with low vision and blindness to enjoy safe, independent and productive lives. Lighthouse is the only U.S. vision rehabilitation agency with its own in-house research capability. For more information about vision loss, its causes and what you can do about it, contact Lighthouse International at 1-800-829-0500 or visit www.lighthouse.org