Project looks at caring for people with dementia and vision loss

A project to examine how to take care of the 12,500 Scots with both dementia and loss of sight will begin.

It will look at rewarding activities for people with both conditions.

Often old photographs and films are used to help people with dementia to remember, but for those who also have loss of sight, this technique is useless.

The new project, run by the Royal Blind charity, will conduct research and experiment with alternative techniques in a Renfrewshire specialty care center.

They hope to help the residents of Jenny's Well, in Paisley, find memories through local product tasting tests.

& # 39; Customized approaches & # 39;

It is one of the two specialized blind eye care centers in Scotland, managed by Royal Blind, with the other in Edinburgh.

The charity will also collect resources for other healthcare providers so that they are better equipped to deal with people with dementia and vision loss.

The research comes after the charity has received £ 20,000 from the Life Changes Trust, thanks to funding from the Community Lottery Fund over two years.

General Manager Mark O Donnell said: "About 80% of Jenny's residents are suffering from both dementia and vision loss.

"In the coming years, an increasing number of people with dementia in Scotland will also lose their sight, especially as visual impairment may be a symptom of different forms of dementia.

"Loss of sight and dementia require tailored care approaches to ensure that people living on the same conditions receive the support they need.

"We want to develop our understanding and share the knowledge gained from this project on how we provide this important care and activity."