-: Hi, I'm Ed Haines.
I'm the chief program officer at Hadley.
As we age, we're more likely to develop a visual impairment.
In fact, vision loss,
very rare in childhood
is far more common in older adults
especially for those facing age related diseases
like macular degeneration,
glaucoma
and diabetic retinopathy.
With these conditions
we typically retain some useful vision
but the impairment can't be corrected
by lenses, surgery, or medication
and it can make everyday living much more challenging.
Studies show that vision loss in older adults
often brings with it other negative outcomes
like falls,
isolation,
cognitive decline
and depression.
Ruth: I also did lots and lots of sewing.
I love working with fabric and sewing.
that has really suffered.
It hit me pretty strong.
It's pretty, pretty badly.
I have COPD as well
as the vision problem
and they both seem to appear
or be identified at about the same time.
And I came home one day.
I just went to bed and cried.
-: But it doesn't have to be this way.
Hadley has been helping thousands of people like Ruth
for more than 100 years.
Workshops offer practical help
and share new ways to approach everyday tasks
from using the vision features
on a smartphone to labeling medications, to personal care.
Our practical tips can be immediately applied
increasing safety, confidence, and hope for the future.
And each workshop is staffed by vision professionals
because no question should go unanswered.
Hadley's monthly discussion groups
connect adults with vision loss, to each other
decreasing that sense of isolation, replacing it
with a community of others who get it.
What's more, Hadley's help is easy to find
on the phone, online or through the mail.
As a non-profit, our goal is to eliminate barriers
and change lives.
So all our help is offered completely free of charge.
Mark: So I have, what I have.
All I'll get, will be worse, you know
but I won't get better.
So now it's been up to me to figure out
how to live with this
and resources are very slim.
You know, Hadley is a godsend.
I get ideas
and places to go
and, you know, ways to look at things
and just every day also, the everyday help is great.
-: Hadley help is in sight.