As a friend, family member or carer for someone with sight loss, it can be hard to know where to start.
We can help you understand the support, information and products that are available to help you and the person you support.
What is a carer?
A carer is someone who regularly provides substantial unpaid care to friend, relative or partner to help them stay living at home.
Caring for someone can be a lonely and frustrating job at times. We can put you in contact with sources of help and support.
Carers UK
Sightloss might be just one of the conditions affecting the person you care for. RNIB has teamed up with
Carers UK - a charity set up to help the millions of people who care for family or friends - to ensure you get the support, information and advice you need with your caring situation.
Carers UK provides an extensive range of support to those who need help with aspects of caring other than sight loss. This includes help and advice with benefits, work and practical support.
RNIB and Carers UK are working together to help make life better for carers so that all carers have a stronger voice. To ensure that all carers have got the latest information and support on caring,
join Carers UK. Joining Carers UK is free, and gives carers access to a host of support, information and advice about caring for your loved one.
Registering sight loss
Registering sight loss with the local council can make it easier to get practical support from the social services department. It can also be a 'passport' to getting concessions and benefits.
Adapting at home
We've got advice, support and tips to make life
at home easier and more comfortable. This includes adaptations to the home, reducing bills and finding activities and organisations that can improve the living space of the person you care for.
Things to buy
RNIB offers a wide range of products to help blind and partially sighted people keep living an independent life at home. If you're buying on behalf of someone who is blind or partially sighted you can buy some of our specially designed products without paying VAT. To help you get started, we've produced a
family, friends and carers shopping guide.
Volunteers and community care
If you care for someone with sight problems who needs some assistance in their home, you may be able to
get help from an RNIB volunteer. You may also be able to get help from your local council, in the form of
community care.
Residential homes
RNIB runs three
residential homes offering permanent and short-term accommodation with care for blind, partially sighted and deafblind older people. We also offer advice on finding a care home.
Benefits and rights
There are
benefits for carers available to help you and the person you care for. You might also want to read up on the
rights and
benefits available to people with sight loss.
Talk to someone
Register with the RNIB website and you can post messages on our
Family, carers and friends discussion forum. If you're caring for someone, ask for advice and share tips with fellow carers.
It's not unusual to have strong feelings about your role as a carer or friend for someone with sight loss. RNIB can offer
emotional support services, information and counselling to people who are experiencing emotional difficulties.
RNIB Membership gives blind and partially sighted people and those close to them the opportunity to come together and share their experiences, supporting them to improve their lives and those of others.
If you have a particular question or are looking for further information, contact our Helpline by email to
helpline@rnib.org.uk or call 0303 123 9999.
Professionals
We offer a range of development opportunities to people working in the
health and social care sectors. We also produce guidance for service delivery to blind and partially sighted people, and a regular magazine for professionals.