The Impact of Sight Loss

FAMILY WELLBEING AT THE CORE OF SIGHT SCOTLAND

Sight loss impacts not just the individual, but those that care for them as well. Sight Scotland’s Family Wellbeing Service ensures that all affected by sight loss are supported.

THERE are around 180,000 people living in Scotland today with significant sight loss. With that number set to increase by 30,000 over the next 10 years, Scotland’s largest visual impairment organisation, Sight Scotland, is on a mission to reach out to even more people affected by visual impairment. The charity has been supporting people with sight loss for over two centuries, with expertise and services in education, including the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh and outreach education support, care, and the Scottish Braille Press in Edinburgh, which provides accessible formats. And the latest Sight Scotland service, the Family Wellbeing Service, which includes a national telephone support line in Scotland, takes the charity’s expertise and support into the community, increasing its reach across Scotland. Sight Scotland’s Head of Community Services, Colin Hilditch, said: “Our Family Wellbeing Service, which is free to access, is available via telephone, online and within the community. It provides information, advice and support to blind and partially sighted people in Scotland, as well as their families, carers and friends. “The service’s development stemmed from Sight Scotland research prior to the pandemic, including a community consultation, which found that many visually impaired people and their families said they had experienced a lack of support in the early stages of a sight loss diagnosis and in helping family members cope with the impact of their loved one’s sight loss. “Anyone impacted by sight loss in Scotland can connect with our service directly through the Sight Scotland Support Line or by getting in touch through the Sight Scotland website.” Agnes Stevenson, 78, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration four years ago. She says she struggled to come to terms with the impact of losing her sight, and to know how to live independently with sight loss, and so got in touch with Sight Scotland in early 2021.

“I didn’t know anything about macular degeneration. When I was told I had it, I was devastated,” said Agnes. “At that time, I got no information at all. It was a huge shock. If I had had support at an earlier point following my diagnosis, I don’t think I would have gone into such a depression. I had given up completely.

It made me quite depressed, thinking that nothing else could help with my sight. When I contacted Sight Scotland, I’d just thought, ‘I have to do something.’”

With support from the Family Wellbeing Service, Agnes has now been introduced to different types of

“MANY VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES SAID THEY HAD EXPERIENCED A LACK OF SUPPORT.”

magnification to aid her independence at home and received emotional support too. In addition to telephone support, Agnes has also been able to receive in-person visits from Sight Scotland’s Family Wellbeing team. As a result, she was able to regain her life-long hobby of sewing after initially believing she would never be able to sew again. Agnes said: “I feel I have some support now. There was somebody there who would listen to me. I see a future for myself and that is thanks to Sight Scotland.”

For father and daughter Charlie Burns and Gail Burns, of Edinburgh, Charlie’s diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration also came as a huge shock. With a long wait for an eye hospital appointment, Gail made huge efforts to find out further information about sight loss to support her dad. Both father and daughter have received practical and emotional support from the Family Wellbeing Service. Charlie, 83, said: “The team have given us advice and ideas. Things that I wouldn’t have thought about. Anita O’Reilly, one of the Sight Scotland community workers who has been supporting us, has been brilliant. She’s got a good nature, she’s a good listener and she’s very caring. Whether it’s magnifier options or finding social groups, she’s

been very helpful.” Daughter Gail says the emotional support she has received has been invaluable, “I got in touch with Sight Scotland for my Dad and for me because I found it really difficult, and I still do sometimes. I think the main thing was the fact that he wouldn’t be able to see his family’s “THE CHARITY HAS faces again properly. Anita has BEEN SUPPORTING been an absolute godsend for me, PEOPLE WITH SIGHT I’ve had so many long chats with her on the phone. Now we’re in LOSS FOR OVER TWO a much better place and I think CENTURIES.” Sight Scotland’s made a massive difference.” If you are impacted by sight loss and are based in Scotland, you can get in touch with the freephone Sight Scotland Support Line on 0800 024 8973, Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm, or visit sightscotland.org.uk for more information. Author: Sight Scotland Website: sightscotland.org.uk | Twitter: @SightScotland Instagram: @sightscotland | Facebook: @SightScotland