Series targets eye health for older adults
November 30, 2011The National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) of the National Eye Institute (NEI) has developed See Well for a Lifetime: An Educational Series on Vision and Aging, a free online toolkit to help people working with older adults in community settings to promote eye health as part of healthy aging.
The toolkit, which includes three educational modules, contains science-based, easy-to-understand tools to educate older adults about age-related eye diseases and conditions, low vision, and the importance of comprehensive dilated eye exams.
It includes the following:
- Background information on the See Well for a Lifetime Program
- Tips for using the toolkit
- Ideas for promoting eye health to older adults in your community
- A banner for Web sites that links visitors to the toolkit
- Information on the glaucoma and diabetic eye disease Medicare benefit
The NEHEP urges optometrists to report their efforts to educate older adults about eye health, using the NEHEP Web site (http://tinyurl.com/NEHEPcontact).
The agency also welcomes suggestions on the development of eye health education initiatives. Download the series at http://tinyurl.com/NEHEPvisionaging.
