The primary goal of the Social Group Health and Activities Program (SGA) is to facilitate independence and enhance socialization skills for older adults with significant and uncorrectable vision loss through the use of arts and crafts, social activities, and health monitoring groups.

Therapeutic Services

This is a therapeutic program of social and health services that individuals in our community are unable to access elsewhere, as Miami Lighthouse is the sole provider in Miami-Dade County offering professional vision rehabilitation alongside health-related services. Through this program, clients have access to assistive technology instruction, where they receive personalized training on using adaptive devices to support daily living. A licensed Social Worker provides both one-on-one and group counseling sessions to help clients cope with the emotional impact of vision loss. These sessions are designed to reduce feelings of isolation, enhance emotional resilience, and foster meaningful social connections. Clients also benefit from access to the Low Vision Store, where they can learn about and purchase the latest adaptive tools to support their independence. Additionally, recreation activities are led daily and are designed to enhance motor skills, promote social interaction, and maximize functional independence. To further support socialization and community integration, clients participate in monthly field trips to local attractions, cultural institutions, and recreational venues—offering enriching opportunities to engage with peers and explore their community in a supportive environment.

Registered Dietitian

Because one-third of SGA participants are diabetic and often this is the reason for vision loss (diabetic retinopathy), a registered dietitian provides one-on-one nutritional counseling. Therapeutic services are provided along with instruction on accessing technology, ESOL and adult basic education and support groups.

Arts and Crafts, Music Therapy and Fitness

Arts and crafts improve fine motor skills like dexterity, necessary for Braille comprehension. Our trained staff uses various art activities such as painting and ceramics to increase creativity, socialization, and self-esteem. Fitness and wellness activities include exercise, field trips to local parks and areas of interest, and weekly Wing Chun sessions—a form of martial arts that enhances balance, coordination, and self-confidence. Music Therapy instruction is also provided, which has been proven to alleviate symptoms of depression in the elderly. One in four people with macular degeneration develop clinical depression. Such seniors suffering from age-related vision loss remain isolated in their home, and the SGA Program helps them overcome depression and gives them the opportunity to interact with visually impaired peers in a social environment. In addition to in-house programming, participants enjoy frequent field trips and attend or perform in theatrical productions, further encouraging community engagement and self-expression.