Your Generosity Helps Seniors Throughout SE Pennsylvania Manage Living with Vision Loss

It never occurred to Gerry Kilpatrick that she would have vision loss in her senior years. “I don’t know how I could have prepared. I never gave it a thought,” she said. “I was too busy having fun!” That is as it should be. But today, she’s very grateful to everyone whose generosity has sustained VisionCorps. She’s become an enthusiastic advocate for the organization.

“I was introduced to VisionCorps through an educational presentation at the Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford, where I live,” Gerry said. “I knew right away that I wanted to learn more about their services. I walked right up to the presenter and asked her to write down on paper what I needed to do next.” Gerry has macular degeneration and glaucoma as well as some hearing loss, and knows several other residents with failing vision.

“My eye doctor knew all about VisionCorps. He was happy to help, as was my eye specialist from the University of Pennsylvania,” Gerry said. Once the paperwork was submitted, her daughter brought her in for an appointment. “I came back home with all this new information and a wonderful feeling that there were people there who really care.”

Gerry has retained her passion for nature, color, art, and a sense of style. She is working on volume 13 of a 14-volume set of creative memories books about her life: her fabulous herb gardens, her costume design, and her wonderful life with her late husband and their two daughters.

VisionCorps came to Gerry’s home to assess her needs, and provided her with a new light, raised markings on her appliances, a large print calendar, jumbo pens and more. She now has a catalog of adaptive equipment, and has already ordered a high-contrast cover for her computer keyboard that makes it easier for her to see the keys to type.

“The people from VisionCorps have been so understanding and patient,” Gerry said. “They showed me ways to get around the campus safely. My goodness, they helped me so much; I couldn’t even tell you.”