D-Day 80

One issue we come across when working with veterans who have a sight impairment, is eating and how quickly it can make them self-aware. The veterans feel embarrassed when food drops off the fork or spoon; when they put the fork to their mouth with nothing on it. They stop going out to restaurants or cafés. We encourage them to continue and help them to feel more secure. They could put their backs to other diners, or choose finger food which is easier to control.

We show their families how to help them identify what is on the plate, by using a clock face analogy. 12 o’clock chicken, 3 o’clock peas, 6 o’clock mashed potato, 9 o’clock carrots. Also, putting food onto a slightly lipped plate means food can be scooped up better.

By following these tips, a blind veteran doesn't have to miss out on trips to restaurants and can still enjoy their meals. 

We provide support to help with daily living. Veterans have a low vision assessment with our Rehab team. They'll identify the right low vision aids for reading tasks, like a portable scanner to help with reading the post and cooking instructions. Alec can still use his kitchen because we put tactical markers on his appliances so he can keep using them.

Volunteers play a vital role. We recruited a Volunteer Home Visitor for Alec who visits regularly for a cuppa and a chat - and the odd job around the house. Isolation is such a problem for people with sight loss and hearing a friendly voice makes all the difference.

Equipment is important but for an older veteran, their morale is very important. When George S joined us, he was very isolated and felt like life was over. You could see the sense of belonging when he first met his Community Support Worker. She visited him and introduced the Rehab Officer and some other colleagues. They made him drinks and helped him join telephone groups. He said "I am part of the gang. Now, I feel I belong".

His Community Support Worker says sometimes, she feels like crying because she knows what a huge impact she has on someone's life is. Knowing that they don't feel lonely anymore is wonderful. The change can be tremendous. 

Veterans in care homes are still visited, to make sure they are well looked after. Often, the carers don't know how to provide support to someone with sight loss. We explain they need to introduce themselves and say "I am going to give you a cup of tea on your left side. Be careful. it's hot". Not just leave it there. Sometimes a person might not drink their tea, or not be eating - because they don't even know it's there.

George's CSW says, "I feel proud. I feel pride within myself because of the work that I do. I have a chance to make those people - who served through such a horrible period in our history - to make their life easier and to make their life a little bit happier. That, for me, is a joy. It is a generation that is going, you know, we won't get this chance again. Being part of their lives until the end of their lives is just joyous. It's just very rewarding.

"I'm being paid to do what I love. Imagine that, what a job."

John receives regular check in calls from the local Community team and keeps in contact with other members of Blind Veterans UK for peer support. We also support him in staying safe at home by providing him with alarm on a pendant. Our IT instructors helped him to be able to watch television using voice controls.

John has also published a book which required him to tap into many of the services offered by Blind Veterans UK. At 99 and in midst of the pandemic, John decided he would like to write his memoirs. We provided John with an iPad and was taught remotely by IT instructors in various areas of the country to take a photo of his handwritten memoirs, upload these as an attachment and send them over email. We then sourced a volunteer who John would send the handwritten notes to, the volunteer typed these up and edited them in discussion with John before emailing them back. All of these actions were coordinated by John’s local Community team so that everything happened to support John in the best way possible. John finally published his book at the age of 101 and is now working on his second book.

"I feel so humbled and honoured to be able to serve our members. We literally have the best jobs in the world" - Community Support Worker to Joe and Harry H.