Many seniors experience vision changes that can leave them with serious disabilities. Learning to walk and navigate in unfamiliar territory can take time. Some learn quite quickly, others need help for a longer period of time. These are proven techniques to guiding and assisting someone with low or no vision:

Unless you are completely certain that the person you are guiding wants your help, always ask if the person wants assistance. Many people with limited or no vision are perfectly able to navigate without help, even on unfamiliar outside territory. Never grab an arm or a hand without permission as this can be startling, is intrusive, and can put the person with vision impairment off balance.

• If the person wants your help, offer your arm. Put the back of your hand against the hand of the person with poor vision. This will allow him or her to independently orient to where you are standing and where your arm is. He or she can then take your arm above your elbow. Let the person you are helping find the best and most comfortable place on your arm independently.

• Walk at a normal pace and slightly in front of the person you are guiding. When you change directions, arrive at a step or stairs, or are preparing to cross a street stand beside the person and pause briefly. Then resume walking slightly in front of the vision-impaired person.

• It may not be necessary to tell the person you are guiding about changes. When you come to the first change in terrain, such as from pavement to grass, or you reach curbs, stairs, escalators or an elevator, ask whether it is helpful to have these changes identified. If the answer is "yes," then do so.

• If you have to leave a person you are guiding, even for only a moment, be sure that the person is able to touch a firm and stable object until you return. A wall, a railing, or a firmly placed piece of furniture is ideal. Being left in "empty space" can be disorienting.

• When you are approaching a seat, you can help guide a vision-impaired person to safely sit by placing the hand of your "guide arm" on the seat. The person you are guiding can then follow your arm to find the seat safely. Never bodily turn the person you are guiding, and never push or pull.

The video below demonstrates these concepts nicely:

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