P F J Verstraten
Sensis, Research & Development, Grave, The Netherlands
Visual impairment at old age causes an increased risk of loneliness, as is suggested by research and experiences in rehabilitation practice. Loneliness mainly concerns the quality of social relationship. From the perspective of a rehabilitation centre for visually impaired and blind people, a friendship programme is suggested to alleviate loneliness among visually impaired older people. Such a programme has already proven to be successful in other areas. It is an intervention designed to empower its participants and aims at: (1) helping participants to clarify their needs, desires and expectations in friendship; (2) analysing current relationships; (3) formulating goals regarding existing and new friendships; and (4) developing strategies to achieve these goals.
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