Meg, are these the slender ¡°ID¡± canes? ?Or heavy short support canes?
Our agency used to give out support canes as an ID cane (before I came on board) and when I worked with them later, they had become used to using the support cane and had to be weaned off of it. I have read (don¡¯t remember where) that a person whose balance is good who is encouraged to use a support cane may change their gait such that they would need the support cane rather than strengthening their muscles to improve their balance. ?Anyone know if that¡¯s true?
My husband and I, by the way, are taking Tai Chi for our balance, and it is extremely helpful.
¡ª Dona
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Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
www.sauerburger.org
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On Jan 17, 2024, at 12:26 PM, Meg Robertson via groups.io <mobilitymeg@...> wrote:
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At the Mass. Commission for the Blind, the O&M Dept., we issued ¡¯short canes¡± for ID and/or visual support to older adults, who did not need a long cane for protection around obstacles. ?Almost all these clients had ARMD. ?Sometimes these canes were used as a bridge to get them to use a long cane if vision decreased. These canes were not issued to anyone using a walker or had a mobility physical impairment, referrals were made or recommended to PT services. ?This type of cane has been used in our practice in Mass., for over 40 years. ?We would work with PTs as often as we could but support canes can be brought without a prescription. ?We issued more of these short cans than long canes. ?
If a client had purchased a support cane, we would observe how they used it, maybe re-sized it for a better fit, recommend them to consult with a PT, but we would also tape thei cane, for ID, if they did not need a long cane.
We also had some of our OM staff become ¡°Matter of Balance¡± Trainers, as most of our referrals were of older adults with ARMD.
So there are 2 different issues, yes, if there is a physical mobility need, PTs need to be consulted for the best type of a Mobility Device-Walker/support cane/wheelchair, vs using a smaller cane (not a long cane) for ID and visual support.
Many times we have ran into issues with Pts, that don¡¯t want a blind person to use a long cane with a support cane, as they are consider the long cane another mobility device, when their goal is to have the person travel without a mobility device. ?We have to do a lot of training with these PTs. ?
If working with Children, that is another discussion but I¡¯m talking about older adults with vision loss.
Meg Robertson COMS
Former Director of the O&M Dept.?
Mass. Commission for the Blind
On Jan 17, 2024, at 7:48?AM, Julie Henry <jhenry@...> wrote:
Thank you. That is exactly what I was looking for.
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Julie
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Julie Henry
O&M Specialist
411 W. Front | Tyler, TX | 75702
O: 903.590.4356
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Hi Julie!? I always recommend that the client go to a PT (funded either by insurance if prescribed by a doctor, or the agency that is paying for my services).? They are the only ones qualified to assess and address the problem (balance or weakness or dizziness or whatever) that seems to suggest the need for a support cane.??
Then I work with the PT and the client, so the 3 of us can work out strategies to both probe ahead to see what's on the ground, and provide support.? There are examples of using a support and a long white cane??and Scott Crawford has a wealth of information in his APH material.
I worked with a woman last summer who is blind and had learned to use a long white cane and now needed a cane for support.? She had a support cane but hadn't learned how to use it, so the PT showed her how to use it and she got to the second level of learning the cane (she could do it but only when concentrating).??
She then very quickly learned to use the white cane with the support cane but as she was walking she asked me to hold her for support, and I realized that before incorporating the white cane, she needed to get skilled with and rely on the support cane, and after that we introduced the long white cane and she did well.? I videotaped the process and some day will get it ready to post.
On 1/12/2024 5:31 PM, Julie Henry wrote:
Those of you working with older individuals who have low vision ¡ how do you approach it when they need a support cane, but do not have one or a PT. What do you do?
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Also, are any of you ¡°fall prevention¡± certified? If so, what program did you do?
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Julie Henry
O&M Specialist
411 W. Front | Tyler, TX | 75702
O: 903.590.4356
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-- Dona?
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Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
