Maintaining quality hearing and vision is an important part of aging. Loss of hearing and vision contribute to lower quality of life among seniors. It’s crucial to get the services and support needed to keep your hearing and vision intact as you age!
CareWell’s HearWell and SeeWell programs provide vital services to eligible adults over the age of 60 to ensure they have what they need to maintain their hearing and vision so they can maintain their independence and stay safely connected to their community.
“The HearWell and SeeWell programs improve the ability of seniors to connect and communicate with other people and the world around them,” said Karen Courtney, Programs Director at CareWell Services.
The impact of these programs is seen in the everyday lives of participants. Brenda Murphy, a volunteer at Washington Heights United Methodist Church and Community Center, utilized the SeeWell program to receive a free eye exam and glasses. After experiencing how easy it was to access these resources, she referred her brother Archie, a double amputee, so he could also get glasses.
“It’s a big expense off of my budget,” Murphy said. “This really blessed [Archie] in being able to get the glasses and it blessed me because I’ve got cataracts and he does too. We just can’t afford to pay for glasses. I’ve been buying them at the dollar store.”
After navigating the process both for herself and as a caregiver for her brother, she strongly encourages others to reach out to the program.
“I tell people all the time to call CareWell Services,” Murphy said. “It really is free, the services are helpful. It’s always easy working with the CareWell Services.”
These resources are made possible through funding from the Calhoun County Senior Millage and critical partnerships with local providers EyeMart Express and Battle Creek Hearing.
“SeeWell and HearWell provider partners are committed to the ongoing health and safety of Calhoun County Seniors,” Courtney said. “EyeMart Express and Battle Creek Hearing each offer significant savings on their products for these programs, so we are able to serve more clients.”
To qualify, applicants must reside in Calhoun County, be age 60 or older, and have a monthly income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($2,660 monthly income for a single person household, $3606.67 for a two-person household). Because the millage programs do not look at assets as an eligibility factor, applicants simply need to bring identification to prove their age and residency, along with proof of income, such as a Social Security letter, pension letter, paystubs, or bank statements.