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Low Vision Rehabilitation |
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JENKINS LIVING CENTER PROVIDING LOW VISION REHABILITATION Jenkins Living Center is excited to add low vision rehabilitation to the therapy services provided at Jenkins Living Center. The goal of the low vision rehabilitation program is to provide quality, comprehensive services to adults with low vision to enable them to live productive and satisfying lives as independently as possible. The low vision rehabilitation program will provide services to those in Northeast South Dakota who are experiencing difficulty completing activities of daily living because of vision impairment. Low vision rehabilitation services are provided by Jody Niemann, MS, OTR/L. Jody graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1992 and with a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of South Dakota in 1994. Jody has worked with the older adult with a variety of medical conditions for over 10 years. Jody has advanced her clinical training by attending over 35 hours of continuing education on low vision rehabilitation. She is a member of the South Dakota Occupational Therapy Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, Macular Degeneration Partnership, and the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Low vision rehabilitation provided by Jenkins Living Center will be provided in the clinic, home, and community to provide maximum benefit. Training will be provided to use residual vision such as visual skills training with scanning, environmental modifications, use of magnifiers, nonvisual adaptations, and task analysis. Many persons with low vision have safety concerns such as increased risk for falls, difficulty identifying hazards in the environment and judging depth on stairs and curbs, using utensils to chop or slice foods, and reading medication bottles. Common vision diagnoses for low vision rehabilitation include: macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Medicare pays for low vision rehabilitation under Part B. If you or someone you know could benefit from low vision rehabilitation, please contact the therapy department at Jenkins Living Center at 886-5777. Referrals for treatment can made by family practice MDs, neurologists, ophthalmologists, and low vision optometrists. |