Guests at last week’s Rhawnhurst Naturally Occurring Retirement Community meeting listened to a presentation by Wills Eye Institute representatives, said goodbye to retiring project manager Judy Yellin and welcomed her successor, Shirley Reses.
The senior citizens had the opportunity to be examined by Dr. Michael Rabinowitz and technician Guadalupe Ceron in a “Wills on Wheels” bus that was parked outside Congregations of Ner Zedek synagogue, at 7520 Bustleton Ave. They also received an information sheet on eye care.
The bus has been rolling throughout the Philadelphia area since May 2010, and about 2,000 people have been tested. The patients at the Aug. 18 event included Phyllis Bresner, who estimates she hasn’t had a new eyeglass prescription in a decade.
Mike Pond, the event marketing manager, explained that the bus visits health expos and senior citizen centers in Philadelphia, the suburbs and South Jersey.
Individuals fill out a questionnaire before their screening and examination. A picture is taken of the eyes, and the seniors take reading and distance vision tests and are screened for glaucoma, macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
Follow-up care is available at Wills Eye Institute, at 840 Walnut St., or a surgery center, including one at 8400 Roosevelt Blvd.
Any organization that wants to book the Wills on Wheels program can fill out an event request form at www.willseye.org/bus
Meanwhile, Yellin hosted her final monthly luncheon. She is retiring on Tuesday after two and a half years on the job.
Rhawnhurst NORC, which debuted in 2005, serves people age 60 and older in the 19111, 19149 and 19152 ZIP codes. The agency provides transportation to doctors’ offices and grocery stores, minor home repairs and the services of social worker Inna Gulko.
In addition, there are annual winterization and spring cleanup days. Some 700 clients have been served in the last 11 months.
“This was a privilege to work with the funders and the clients to preserve the dignity and independence of seniors in the Rhawnhurst area,” Yellin said.
At age 68, Yellin believes it is a good time to retire.
“I’ve worked my whole life,” she said.
In retirement, Yellin will be busy exercising and spending time with her five grandchildren under 5 years old.
Reses, whose background is in gerontology, will start on Monday. She will work out of the agency’s office at Ner Zedek.
Rhawnhurst NORC is funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Pew Charitable Trusts, Catholic Health Care Services and independent donors. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215–354–3034 or [email protected]
