When Cath started rewriting her address book, she could still see the letters. By the time she finished, she couldn't read them anymore. Her sight had gone that quickly.
At 91, you might think losing your sight would mean giving up on independence. But Cath hasn't given up on anything. She's getting to grips with all sorts of technology that helps her live life the way she wants to.
We met Cath while shadowing Rehabilitation and Mobility Worker, Caroline Hedley, during one of her regular home visits recently, and found out how a little bit of the right help and some determination can make all the difference to someone living with a visual impairment (VI).
Phones and apps
Cath uses a Synapptic phone and it's been a real game-changer for her. She talks to it to write emails and messages for her, which is far quicker than trying to type them out. She can also listen to audio books on her phone so she's never short of something to read.
The Be My Eyes app has also been brilliant for her. Through this Cath can ask a volunteer to check simple things like whether her bread's gone off. There's even an AI version now, so she can get help straight away without waiting for a volunteer. When you live in sheltered housing like Cath does, being able to sort these things out yourself makes a real difference to her independence.
One difficulty that Cath encounters on a daily basis is with how information gets shared in her. All the notices about exercise classes and activities go up on posters that she can't read so she misses out. As an accessible alternative, we suggested setting up a WhatsApp group where announcements can be sent as voice messages instead or text messages can be read out by the phone. Simple fix, big difference!
Cath's now learning to use voice memos for shopping lists. Her nephew still helps with the online shopping, but now she can get organised beforehand and tell him exactly what she needs. Caroline also showed Cath how to swap her big print calendar for an app that tells her about appointments out loud. No more missed trips to collect medication or forgotten meetings.
Reading
Cath has a big desktop magnifier which she uses to read letters and instruction manuals. Though it takes up half her table, it's still incredibly helpful. There are newer and smaller ones available now that talk as well as magnify - the assistive technology for people with visual impairment is always evolving and growing.
Her OrCam Read device is clever - it's pocket-sized and reads out whatever she points it at, which is perfect for when she's out shopping and wants to know what's on a label or menu.
Cath got help setting up RNIB talking books from Helen O’Leary, Occupational Therapist from Edinburgh Community Rehabilitation and Support Service. These books come on USB sticks that Cath can listen to and then return and exchange for new ones once she's finished them. The USB player has bumpy buttons that she can feel to make it even easier to use.
Cath's phone connects to her hearing aid through Bluetooth so she doesn't miss calls when she's out and about. We also helped set up hands-free on her home phone.
Sight Scotland's Assistive Technology Specialist, Amy McCainsh, calls Cath regularly to help her with her tech. There's always someone from Sight Scotland at the end of the phone to help people with VI set up and learn new things through the Support Line.
Getting out and about
Cath loves going on walks with her local group, but she stopped after losing her sight as some of their walking routes became too difficult for her to navigate. We're looking into befriending services that might help, and we've given her some ideas about other walking groups that might work better.
Sight Scotland offers sighted guide training to groups that arrange walks, so that these activities can be more inclusive. Anyone experiencing sight loss can benefit from these services and can contact our Support Line for information.
"The sessions are very, very helpful," Cath told us. "They helped me with things I didn't really even think about."
That sums up what good support looks like. It's not just about showing someone how to use a gadget - it's about thinking ahead, spotting the things that might make life easier, and giving people the confidence to have a go. This is what Sight Scotland's Rehabilitation team are there for.
Every week, Cath learns something new. She shows that you can learn at any time, and losing your sight doesn't mean losing your independence. At 91, Cath isn't just coping - she's getting on with life exactly how she wants to. With a bit of support and the right tools, anyone can do the same.
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