Free public workshops to help seniors deal with vision loss and long-term healthcare will be hosted in April by Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center.

“Living with Vision Loss” will provide information and local resources to help people who experience vision limitations. The one-hour workshop will provide help and hints on living at home, developing hobbies, participating in sports, travel, work and career, and leisure activities.

Vision loss “is not the end of the world,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources. “The good news is there is help available to enable people to remain independent and active.  The key is knowing how to tap into those resources and integrate them into daily life.”

“Living with Vision Loss” will be offered three times:

• April 20, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the County-City Building in Tacoma (Rainier Conference Room on the seventh floor).
• April 22 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Pierce County Annex, 2401 S. 35th St. in Tacoma.
• April 23 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Soundview Building, Suite 200, 3602 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma.

The workshops will be presented by Hongda Sao, case manager with the Aging and Disability Resource Center; Tyler Kaye of the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library; Linda Wilder of the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind; and Jane Elliott and Jeffrey Gerhardstein from SightConnection.

The other workshop this month, titled “Options for the Future: Living Choices for Older Adults and People with Disabilities,” is an information-only opportunity to learn about services and resources in Pierce County. A panel of local experts will address in-home care, adult day programs, geriatric care management, elder law, adult family homes, assisted living, skilled-nursing homes, memory care, Medicare, Medicaid and community resources.

“Options for the Future” will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 12 at the Parkland-Spanaway branch of Pierce County Library System, located at 13718 Pacific Ave. S.

Long term care includes medical and non-medical services, including personal needs, at home or in a facility for people with a chronic illness or disabilities.