Page 18 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Tips and Tools for Adapting to Vision Loss Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good resources or products that can help seniors with severe vision loss? My wife has diabetic retinopathy, and it’s gotten worse over the past year. Need Help Dear Need, I’m very sorry about your wife’s vision loss, but you’ll be pleased to know that there are many resources and a wide variety of low vision products and technologies that can help with many different needs. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), it’s estimated that 12 million Americans ages 40 and older are living with uncorrectable vision loss, which is often caused by age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. These conditions become more common with age and can make daily tasks like cooking, reading or watching television much harder. But optometrists who specialize in low vision – reduced vision that can’t be rectifi ed with glasses – have many aids and technologies that can help. Here are a few diff erent low vision products as recommended by Consumer Reports, along with some suggestions for fi nding a specialist who can help your wife adapt to her vision loss. Magnifi ers and Adaptions Once reading glasses are no longer suffi cient, there are other devices that can help. These include handheld magnifi ers with a light and magnifying domes that can be placed on top of a page. Telescopes mounted on glasses can work for people who need help seeing farther away. For those who have lost part of their visual fi eld due to a stroke or brain injury, prisms mounted to the lenses in glasses can move an image from an area someone can’t see to the area of their vision where they can. This can help people get around without bumping into obstructions. Driving may no longer be possible, but some people with certain types of low vision can do so safely using a bioptic telescope – a telescopic device attached to glasses – that makes distant objects like road signs visible. And some changes at home can make your space easier (and safer) to navigate, such as putting bright tape on the edges of stairs and getting rid of clutter. High-Tech Tool Most smartphones and computers today have built-in accessibility settings that can help your wife by reading aloud text on the screen, making default text sizes larger, and increasing screen contrast. She can also take a photo with her phone of something she wants to see, then boost the brightness, contrast, or zoom. Televisions, too, may have accessibility features you can adjust to make watching easier. Phone apps for people with low vision can also be a big help. These include magnification apps like SuperVision+ Magnifi er and apps such as Seeing AI and Envision AI that can look through your phone’s camera and turn text into speech, describe a scene in front of you, identify objects, or even recognize faces. There are also handheld or wearable devices like OrCam that can read documents or describe the scene you are looking at. Low Vision Specialist To get some help, find your wife an optometrist who is a low-vision specialist. They can help her fi gure out how to best use the vision she does have and recommend helpful devices. There are also vision rehabilitation services that can make a big diff erence. These services provide counseling, along with training on how to perform daily living tasks with low vision, and how to use visual and adaptive devices that can help improve quality of life. They also offer guidance for adapting your home that will make it safer and easier for your wife to maneuver. Her regular eye doctor may be able to recommend a low-vision specialist, or you can search the AOA.org website, which lets you fi lter for specialists in low vision. To locate rehabilitation services and other low vision resources in your area, call the American Printing House (APH) Connect Center at 800-232-5463. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nior ior THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – WEDnEsDAy, DECEmbER 24, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 shortages, rising intakes and limited community resources,” said sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy). “Establishing October as ‘Adopt a Shelter Dog Month’ will give us a statewide platform to promote adoption, support our shelters and ensure more dogs have a real chance at finding a permanent home.” SAFEGUARD SHORT TERM RENTALS (S 2736) — The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on a bill, known as the “Maggie Hubbard Rental Safety Act, that would require that all short-term rentals in Massachusetts be inspected for working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within one year prior to rental. It also mandates that rental platforms and agents verify this certifi cation before listing a property, ensuring consistent, statewide fi re safety protections for renters. “Shannon Hubbard and her one-year-old daughter Maggie were tragically killed in a short-term rental that lacked working smoke and carbon monoxide detector,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “It was an entirely preventable and unaccept~ Legal Notice ~ RESIDENT SERVICE COORDINATOR Description and Details: The Everett Housing Authority is seeking a part-time Resident Service Coordinator (RSC). The RSC conducts assessment, reassessment and monitoring of services provided to households residing in our family public housing developments. The RSC provides information, referral and service coordination to households. The RSC will be responsible for collecting and providing all necessary metrics and reports to the Executive Director and The Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities. The RSC will assist residents having difficulty with their lease obligations, such as paying rent on time, taking proper care of the unit, and ensuring quiet enjoyment of the property for all residents’ and surrounding neighbors. Qualifications: Associates or bachelor’s degree in relating field or at least 3 years’ experience in a related field or college degree ideally with the focus in social work, public health, human services or community development. Two years’ experience providing induvial services to a diverse population of individuals and families, knowledge of community resources and service networks, and the ability to develop community partnerships. Social Work license preferred. Applicants must have valid Massachusetts driver’s license and their own transportation. Bilingual skills preferred. Resident Service Coordinator Responsibilities: The RSC will be responsible for empowering and supporting residents in the following areas: • Assess the needs of residents and families living within EHA family developments. • Develop and implement supportive services in collaboration with residents and local community service providers. • Remain updated on Fair Housing, mandated reporting and other pertinent rules and regulations. • Provide case management services including but not limited to issues with house keeping, hoarding behaviors and ensure residents have access to public services that assist with rental arrearage, financial stability and health services. • Effectively communicate with residents to ensure residents are informed of available assistance, programs and community activities. • Maintain all necessary information regarding services to residents in a confidential manner. • Collaborate and coordinate with property management team to ensure residents remain stably housed and in compliance with lease terms. How to Apply: Please submit cover letter with resume by email to Stephen Kergo, Executive Director, at Executivedirector@everetthousingauthority.org. The Everett Housing Authority is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. This is a staff position part-time (18 hrs./wk.); salary $38.606. No benefits. December 24, 2025 able loss ... By requiring annual safety inspections and ensuring that rental platforms verify compliance before listing a unit, the bill puts in place the basic, common-sense protections every renter deserves and strengthens public safety in communities across Massachusetts.” Rep. Hadley Luddy (D-Orleans), a co-sponsor of the proposal, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call, asking her why she co-sponsored the bill. PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HEIGHT BEACON | SEE PAGE 19
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