The rehabilitation clinic, which was established together with the Kreatív Formák Foundation at the ophthalmology clinic of the University of Szeged, offers a service that is currently unique in the country to patients who have suffered from severe and permanent visual impairment, Edit Tóth-Molnár, the director of the clinic said.
At the press conference presenting the ambulance’s activities, the head of the university professor stated that it is difficult to tell an ophthalmologist that there are points when medical science cannot help at the moment.
The ambulance was created so that patients can receive the necessary help within the walls of a medical institution at the time closest to the time of vision loss, so that they can build up their everyday life in the new life situation, the professor emphasized.
It is currently unique in the country for a university clinic to help visually impaired patients in one place and at the same time with the staff of an NGO that provides professional support in rehabilitation, said Edit Tóth-Molnár.
The ambulance currently accepts patients for four hours a week, announced in advance, in accordance with the different examination times. If the patients require it, the clinic and the foundation are ready to extend the appointment time, the director said.
Éva Nagygyörgy, the professional manager of the Kreatív Formák Foundation, said that since 2007, the NGO has been coordinating the elementary and later employment rehabilitation of visually impaired people. The Dél-Alföld Rehabilitation Center, operated by the foundation, currently provides free services to visually impaired people living in Bács-Kiskun, Békés and Csongrád-Csanád counties in order to restore independent living and improve their quality of life.
For a person who becomes severely visually impaired as a result of an eye disease or an accident, and until then lived independently, it is a serious shock that they need help on a daily basis. A psychologist helps the patients process the situation, a social worker provides them with lifestyle counseling and support to navigate the care system, the specialist said.
In addition, patients can take part in training tailored to their individual needs and life situation, from cane use to kitchen and household tasks to IT. In addition to the preparation of the longer rehabilitation process, patients can receive immediate advice on the selection of optical aids at the clinic, but it is also possible to inform their relatives.
(MTI)
Photo: Frank Yvette
