"Loss of vision or blindness doesn’t have to mean loss of independence.”
Senior Community Independent Living Services (SCILS) is a program sponsored by the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired that provides free services to visually impaired seniors through our Agency. The goals of the program are to help older adults experiencing significant vision loss to:- Adjust to their condition
- Enhance the quality of their life
- Achieve personal independence
SCILS can provide:
- In-home independent living assessments
- Skills training to empower individuals to become more independent in everyday activities such as shopping, cooking, reading and household chores, home management mobility and communications
- Low vision aids including magnifiers, large print items, and adaptive equipment
- Emotional support and counseling through volunteer programs and peer support groups
- Assistance in coordinating other social services and entitlements
Why SCILS?
As people age they are more vulnerable to vision loss. According to the National Federation of the Blind, an estimated one in six people ages 65 or older and one in three people age 85 and older will experience some degree of vision loss. These seniors are susceptible to four common eye conditions:
- Macular Degeneration, a disease affecting central vision and one’s ability to see straight ahead and clearly.
- Glaucoma, optic nerve damage which can cause blindness
- Cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens leading to loss of eyesight if left unattended.
- Diabetic Retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes and cause of distorted vision
When is SCILS needed?
Signs that a loved one’s vision is deteriorating may include:
- Difficulty seeing well enough to perform daily living tasks
- Inability to recognize the faces of friends or family
- Having trouble reading items such as prescription bottles or street signs
- If some one is experiencing a visual impairment of 20/70 vision or less with corrective lens or blindness
