Carer and Family

The aim of providing care to a person who is blind or has low vision is to maintain quality of life and independence. When independent living is no longer possible, it may be the role of the carer to undertake activities that can no longer be performed by the person with low vision.

In this section the word carer will be used as a general term to refer to unpaid family and friends.

Providing care requires time and attention so it is important to have the right tools to approach the role, to feel confident and to maintain personal health and well being.

One way to view the carer role is as part of a larger support team. The team players who may make up the support team can include family, friends, eye health professionals, low vision service providers, support workers, counsellors, carer associations and other service providers.

Together team members can provide support and assistance for each other and the person in need of care. This will ensure the best outcomes are achieved.