MARGARET King considers herself one lucky senior.
Late last year she upgraded her glasses for free under the state government’s long running VisionCare program.
But from the end of the month, elderly and disadvantaged people will no longer have access to free spectacles and other visual aids, making Mrs King one of the last to take advantage of it.
And as the president of the Shoalhaven District Senior Citizens’ Association, she has heard more than a few angry complaints about the change.
“It makes it very hard on older people,” said Mrs King.
“It’s a bit rough – they just don’t seem to care anymore. We all paid our taxes our whole lives.
“Now there will be people who will go blind, or have falls, and it’s very easy to break a bone when you’re older.
“And there’s no guarantee the funds will return in July.”
The Department of Family and Community Services announced last week that VisionCare NSW would suspend its program from February 29 until July 1, saying it needed to be reined in after again running over budget.
The program has operated since 1992.
Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward said the program had exceeded its $4.4 million budget.
VisionCare NSW has directed providers to take orders only until February 10, so as to have them processed by February 15.
Providers have been inundated by last-minute appointments.
They warn that large sectors of the community are still ignorant of the changes, and will have no recourse after this date.
The chair of VisionCare NSW’s board, Professor Brian Layland, said the suspension of the program would hit the most vulnerable members of the community the hardest.
“The elderly, people on disability pensions, people who are practically and legally blind and indigenous people will be affected,” he said.
“Some of them will be severely handicapped by this situation, and be unable to read or watch screens. It’s a pity that it’s being introduced.”
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