Free In-Home Services for Seniors Who are Blind or Visually Impaired.

• Reading

• Escorting

• Shopping

• Friendly Visits

Established in 1987, VISIONS Intergenerational Volunteer Program recruits and trains high school students to assist elders who are blind at home and in their local community. Blind elders experience decreased loneliness and isolation, increased social interaction and greater use of local stores and services. The Intergenerational Volunteer Program addresses the needs of elders who are blind through the following initiatives:

Collaboration: The students provide services directly to elders who are blind living in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens. The elders receive help with chores, gain positive experiences with the youth and evaluate their satisfaction with the services.

Volunteer Service: The volunteers assist elders who are blind in shopping, escorting, doing errands, computer troubleshooting, reading mail, and offering friendly visits.

Blind seniors may also participate in Senior Speak Out, a weekly support group at Selis Manor designed specifically for blind seniors aged 60 and over. Dinner is served, and guest speakers present information on timely topics based on seniors’ requests.

Intergenerational Programming: The seniors and youth participate together in various programs designed to provide further opportunities for them to engage with each other in a safe and positive environment. The teens are able to bring their skills to assist the seniors, while the seniors have the opportunity to serve as mentors for the youth in the various activities and programs. These are a few of the programs we offer:
a. Speaker’s Forum: Seniors come in to talk with the teens about various topics from careers, advocacy to financial management.

b. Arts & Crafts: Seniors from Elder Craftsmen come to VISIONS to teach a variety of crafts to the teens.

c. Computers: Teens participate in the computer program, assisting seniors on various computer operations and terminology.

d. Intergenerational Dance: The seniors and the teens are provided an opportunity to experience various dance forms with each other, bringing about the teens and seniors to get their groove on.

e. New York Reads/New York Sees Program with New York Women’s Agenda: Seniors and teens join together to read and discuss a selected, topical book, which in turns promotes literacy, cultural awareness, and intergenerational debate.

Days and Hours of Service: Monday-Friday between the hours of 3:30 pm -5:30 pm during the school year and between 11am-12:30pm or from 2pm-3:30pm (flexible) during school vacations. Visits typically last 1 1/2 hours.

Application Process: Seniors 60 years of age and over, who have vision loss can contact the Volunteer Coordinator. An intake and home visit will be completed. Program is available to seniors living in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx, but travel time must be under 45 minutes when school is in session.

For further information contact:
Elizabeth Lee, Volunteer Coordinator
VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
500 Greenwich Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10013
(212) 625-1616 Ext. 108
ELEE@visionsvcb.org

Volunteer Program funded in part by the New York City Department for the Aging under the Older Americans Act.