New courses help visually impaired people

A pilot scheme helping young visually impaired people with daily living skills, including cookery, has proved so successful it is being extended to all age groups.

Bournemouth Council is running the eight-week courses for Community Care service users at the Bournemouth Society for the Visually Impaired in Victoria Park Road. Specially trained rehabilitation staff are working with small groups of between four and six people to help them with the skills they need to live safely and independently. The focus of the work is the safe preparation and cooking of fresh food but the course also covers other skills such as ironing and budgeting. People from the initial course said other benefits included improving confidence and socializing. One member is now able to move to live independently after completing the course.

Cookery covered in the courses includes traditional methods such as boiling, baking and steaming but also embraces using a microwave to prepare meals from scratch rather than just re-heating. Much of the equipment, such as brightly coloured chopping mats or measuring scoops, is inexpensive and easily available from local stores. More sophisticated pieces of equipment with tactile or audible controls can be tried out at the Centre for people to assess if they are suitable before deciding to buy.

Neil Smurthwaite, Head of Community Care Services, said: “Cooking and sharing food is a wonderful way to get together and have some fun as well as being vital for day-to-day living. But the kitchen can be a risky place if you can’t see well. These courses are proving a real success in helping people with the skills and confidence they need to keep safe and eat healthily in their homes.”