A very close relative of mine is going blind?!
Question: How can I help them cope with this, They are in their late fifties so can't face the thought of going blind. Any help or suggestion welcome.
Answers: How can I help them cope with this, They are in their late fifties so can't face the thought of going blind. Any help or suggestion welcome.
i would contact your local association for the blind
they are a wealth of info
they will prob have a support group for your relative as well as things to support the family AND to support the emotions that go along with it
i'd also google support groups for the blind
and yes, blind people can access the computer
they have these great programs that go from text to voice. there are several programs out there. they have lots of gadgets that make daily life easier
* your relative is probably scared out of their mind. if they lash out and push you away try to remember how scary this is for them. it's a process of accepting vision loss, they will come around given time. please don't give up on them if this happens *
best of luck to you and your family
take them on a week to experience everything
festivals, amusement parks, museums, etc
dont show pity, show love, by making them feel even worse and ailing will not help. be supportive and loving, not pitiful
Maybe contact an association for blind people who can direct you to someone who support blind people.
When such a challenge comes into our life the best way to deal with it it's to go with it not against it.
Behind any challenges there is a lesson, the experience will make them stronger and will bring into their life more positive that you would imagine in the first place.
My thoughts are with you and them
Take care
Contact your local chapter of the NFB so that she/he can meet up with experienced, capable, and confident blind adults. Encourage them to explore orientation and mobility, independent living, braille, computer skills training. If you don't know organizations that provide those services, you can either ask his/her ophthalmologist, contact your local vocational rehab, or simply go for it and google organizations serving blind adults.
Remember, being blind can be a huge change if the person has spent most of their life sighted, but you CAN adjust and enjoy life.
Tell them you love them. Ask them if you can do anything for them. Tell them you are scared. I'm sure they are too and might want to talk about it. Just because they are going blind doesn't mean their life has to end. It just means that they will need to relearn to do things they always took for granted.
Find out info on seeing eye dogs. If they have insurance it should cover a good amount of the cost for one.