Family, Friend and Carer - A Guide - Macular Degeneration ...

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ContentsIntroduction 1Section 1What is Low Vision? 2What is the Impact of Low Vision? 4What are some of the Challenges for a Person who has Low Vision? 5Section 2When Does a Person Become a Carer? 6What Types of Activities and Tasks do Carers do? 6What can be the Impact of Being a Carer? 7Section 3A Guide for Care 9The Carer 9Care Required 9Creating a Care Plan 10The Support Team 11Communicating Effectively 13Section 4Strategies for Independent Living 14Maintaining Independent Mobility 14Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls 17New Lifestyle and Leisure Activities 18Using Daily Living Aids, Low Vision Aids and Adaptive Technology 19Section 5Caring for the Carer 20Entitlements for the Carer 21Services and Information for Carers 22Section 6Easy Reference Guide 24Section 7Service Directory 28* Legal blindness** In this booklet the word carer will be used as a general term to refer to family, friends and support workers.
IntroductionFamily, Friend and Carer - A Guide provides information and advice for family members,friends and carers of a person who is blind * or has low vision.Providing care to a person who is blind or has low vision aims to maintain quality of lifeand independence. When independent living is no longer possible, it is the role of thecarer ** to undertake activities that can no longer be performed by the person who has lowvision.For the carer, providing care requires time and attention so it is important to have theright tools to approach the role, to feel confident, as well as maintaining personal healthand well being.One way of viewing the carer role is as part of a larger support team. When viewed inthis way all aspects of the caring process become more manageable for everyone involved.The team players who may make up this support team are centred around the personwho has low vision and can include family, friends, eye care professionals, low vision serviceproviders, support workers, counsellors, carer associations and other service providers.Together team members can provide support and assistance for each other and theperson in need of care, ensuring the best outcomes are achieved.This guide is for carers who provide support for a family member, friend or client with lowvision. By being informed, adopting appropriate strategies and knowing when and whereto access help and support, a carer can perform the role to benefit the person who haslow vision.This guide is the second in the series of publications on low visionproduced by the Macular Degeneration Foundation. The first publication inthis series, Low Vision - A Guide, offers a practical approach for people of allages who are blind or have low vision. It is helpful to read Family, Friend andCarer - A Guide in conjunction with Low Vision - A Guide.Family, Friend and Carer - A Guide 1
Page 1: Family, Friend& CarerA GUIDEFamily,
Page 5: GlaucomaGlaucoma is the name given
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Page 18 and 19: Stairs and KerbsInform the person w
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Family, Friend and Carer - A Guide - Macular Degeneration ...

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