Panhellenic Association study highlights support needs for visually impaired

A study by the Panhellenic Association of Retinopaths (P.E.A.) highlights the significant daily support required by individuals with severe visual impairment in Greece. The findings indicate that nine out of ten participants require assistance from third parties for personal care and household needs, with more than half reporting major difficulties or an inability to perform self-care tasks.

Support is primarily provided by relatives, while the contribution of organized services, such as the ‘Help at Home’ program, remains limited. The analysis, which utilized 2019 health survey data from ELSTAT/EUROSTAT, focused on a sample of 16 individuals with visual impairments of 80% or greater, including total blindness. The sample was predominantly elderly, with 62.5% aged 80 or older and 18.75% aged between 70 and 79, and 75% were women.

Specific difficulties were noted in personal hygiene and dressing, with 65% to 80% of participants reporting extreme difficulty in these areas depending on the activity. The study notes that due to the small sample size and specific age composition, these results describe the participants specifically and cannot be generalized to all people with visual impairments in Greece.