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Living with sight loss at Christmas

Christmas can be a tricky time of year especially with sight loss. Here are a few tips to help make the holiday season more bearable.

Christmas cards:

  • Write addresses on white labels for coloured envelopes.
  • Don’t write who it is to in the card, just write who it is from at the bottom.
  • Take a picture on a phone or tablet of the cards you receive, so you can zoom in to read them.

Buying and wrapping presents:

  • Try using online shopping to avoid busy town centres and have everything delivered to your door.
  • Use boxes for gifts so they are easy to wrap or use gift bags with tissue paper on top.
  • Wrap each person’s presents in different paper so you don’t need to look at gift labels when giving them out.
  • Don’t worry about perfection, they are only going to get torn open anyway.

Unwrapping presents:

  • Have a large bin liner next to you and get everyone to bin their wrappings as they unwrap their gifts.
  • Give each person a place to stack their presents, that way you won’t accidentally throw one out or trip on one.
  • Use the camera on a smart phone or tablet to watch people opening their presents, you can see much more.

Cooking dinner:

  • Use ready prepared vegetables, available in most supermarkets
  • Use oven shelf protectors and individual oven gloves.
  • If you can’t see the instructions on ready prepared items, take a photo then you can zoom into the photo to make instructions larger and clearer.
  • Use a smart device, such as an Alexa for timers. For example: ‘Alexa, set reminder for carrots in 10 minutes’ or ‘Alexa, play me some Christmas music.’
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for lots of help.
  • Sit at the table when preparing food, you can get really close to what you are cutting and have a good light.
  • If cooking the dinner is a bit too much, explain this to the family, take a seat and let them cook the meal! After all it is a family affair so family should be involved in ‘everything’.

Setting the table:

  • Use wine glasses with coloured stems.
  • Use a plain tablecloth to make things easier to see.
  • Use electronic candles, they look great and don’t risk a fire if you knock them over.
  • Try getting coloured serving dishes to make them easier to see.

Washing and clearing up:

  • Get someone else to do it.
  • If someone else is washing up explain why everything has a place, and why they must ask where things go. It can be a pain to find things after well-meaning friends and family have ‘helped’.

Above all else, whatever you are doing, if it’s a struggle ask for help, that is what friends and family are for.

Two women stand in a kitchen at the hob. One is pouring batter into a tin while the other stands next to her.

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July 2024

A local charity has received the backing of the Mayor of South Tyneside.

Councillor Fay Cunningham, the Mayor of South Tyneside, has given her support to a local charity by officially opening its new premises in South Shields.

Sense Ability Matters (SAM) has moved to New Green Street and is based in a premises that was previously occupied by BLISS=Ability, which closed earlier this year.

The Mayor of South Tyneside was joined by Susan Wear, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear, as well as SAM service users and supports for a tour of the new venue.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Cllr Faye Cunningham, has officially opened Sense Ability Matters' new premises, in South Shields.

Image: The Mayor of South Tyneside, Cllr Faye Cunningham, has officially opened Sense Ability Matters’ new premises, in South Shields.

Speaking at the opening, Cllr Cunningham said: “It’s wonderful to have the building open and serving the community again – which has always happened here.

“This building started out as a working men’s club serving pints to the community, before being transformed into an accessible space serving information, advice and guidance to disabled people and their families.

“And now Sense Ability Matters will continue to serve the community from this building by providing a range of activities that help South Tyneside to be a place where people live healthy, happy, and fulfilled lives.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image shows, from left: Stella Matthewson, Mayoress of South Tyneside, David Appleton, community voice co-ordinator at SAM, Mavis Maughan, community champion at Asda, Cllr Faye Cunningham Mayor of South Tyneside and Sarah French, chief executive at SAM.

Sarah French, chief executive at SAM, expressed her delight at being able to welcome the local community to the new venue.

She said: “We’re thrilled to see so many of our clients and supporters here today, to show them round our fantastic new space and to thank them for their support.

“We can’t wait to welcome the community to join us at our new location, participate in our activities, and take advantage of the support we offer.”

SAM has confirmed that the new location will host its ‘Chatty Cafe’ and serve as a welcoming space for the entire community.

It will also feature a meeting room, which will be available for hire, and welcome activities such as carers’ events, digital drop-ins, equipment demonstrations, craft sessions and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left: Sarah French, chief executive at SAM and Carol McAllister, operations manager at SAM