Fact Sheet: Aging

Systems and Services Must Be Easier to Use by Older Adults Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

There are approximately 13.2 million people ages 65 and older in the United States who are blind or have trouble seeing, even with glasses or contact lenses.* This represents 23.2% of the U.S. population above the age of 65. American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) researchers have studied challenges older adults may face when they lose vision, and changes we can make to reduce these challenges.

What AFB’s Research Found

AFB’s Project VISITOR (Visually Impaired Seniors’ Independent Travel Opportunities and Resources) study showed there’s a lack of convenient transportation options for older adults who don’t drive.

Over 40% of urban and more than 65% of rural respondents said that not driving often prevented them from doing things they wanted to do.
People living in rural areas had fewer options, faced more barriers, and traveled less often than people in urban areas.
Some of the biggest challenges included not living near a public bus or train stop, needing to schedule transportation in advance, and rideshare drivers (Uber and Lyft) not helping them find a destination.
During the Project VISITOR study, AFB researchers asked where people would go if they had transportation to go anywhere any time they wanted to. Several respondents wished they could go to the beach, hiking, or to the mountains, where public transportation does not go. Others simply wanted to go places on their own schedule, without needing to plan ahead or wait for someone to drive them.

As people get older, they may need more healthcare services. But doctors, nurses, and other health providers are not always sure how to communicate well with a patient or caregiver who is blind or has low vision.

In AFB’s hospital focus group study, participants said healthcare providers should identify themselves, speak to them directly, explain what they will be doing, and be respectful.
People who are blind or have low vision may have trouble reading and filling out print forms or seeing signs for navigation. Healthcare facilities can help by offering accessible electronic forms. They can also provide staff to help with paperwork and navigation.
Providers should remember that the person who is blind or has low vision is not always the patient. They could be accompanying a relative or friend who is getting care.

Older adults who are blind or have low vision have several options for aids to help with mobility. These include a long white cane or a guide dog. In AFB’s guide dog study, conducted with Guide Dogs for the Blind, half of the survey participants who used guide dogs were at least 55 years old.

People who start using guide dogs when they are younger may continue using a guide dog as they age, as long as they can still be physically active. Some older adults may also decide to get their first guide dog when they experience age-related vision loss.
AFB’s guide dog study revealed a shortage of Orientation and Mobility (O&M) services in the U.S. and Canada. People must have O&M training – which helps them learn skills for navigating the world independently – a before they can get a guide dog.

Although older adults are less likely than younger ones to own smartphones, many older adults still rely on websites and/or mobile apps to access information.

In AFB’s Barriers to Digital Inclusion survey, 39% of the participants were at least 55 years old and 23% were over age 65. Like younger participants, these older adults had problems using websites or mobile apps, because they were not accessible even when using technology designed to assist people who are blind or have low vision. That meant they could not do important activities like shopping, booking air or train travel, or using telehealth (healthcare provided via video).

* Statistic from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey