Losing your sight? Charity has your back

dailyrecord.co.uk:

COMING to terms with sight loss can be daunting for anyone – but it can also mean dramatic life changes for their family and friends.So when research by Sight Scotland revealed the demand for wider practical and emotional help, the charity set up a wellbeing team and helpline.The new service was launched at the start of 2021 and since then 1,500 people have accessed support.As Sight Scotland – formerly known as Royal Blind – marks its 230th anniversary this year, those working there are thrilled that the wellbeing team have also helped to extend their reach – with calls for support coming in from every one of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas.“We are really proud of the numbers of people we are supporting but we have ambitions to do more,” says Colin Hilditch, Head of Community Services for Sight Scotland.“The service is there for people with visual impairment as well as their families and carers.”He says 70 per cent of calls are from individuals with sight impairment, with 30 per cent of enquiries coming from family or carers looking for help and information.Sight loss is a fundamental change to someone’s life, and offering a listening ear can be as important as signposting people to the practical steps they can take.Colin adds: “Sight loss means they are not going to be able to carry on the same way as before.

Sometimes they just want to chat it through – they are struggling with the diagnosis and what it means.“Sometimes the person with the visual impairment is nervous or too proud to call.

They may be dealing with the diagnosis itself. “They might have been told they can no longer drive or do their favourite hobby.“It might mean changing how they navigate inside their home, or how they cook, or their mobility