Eyesight
Featured Local Information
Movement to help your muscles and joints
If you have any muscle, or joint issues as an adult you can find exercises to help you on the NHS Inform website here.
If these exercises do not help you please call 01620 642968 to speak to a physio about your muscle or joint issue.
Housing Options
This pdf file includes a guide to housing options for older people in Scotland. The guide includes useful information on buying a home, selling your home, renting a home and much more.
Local Suppliers
View a list of local equipment suppliers. The PDF includes the company name, address, contact details, and website (if available).
Dementia Friendly East Lothian
East Lothian’s Dementia Friendly Communities are wholly community-led and run.
Dementia Friendly East Lothian provides whatever support and encouragement communities need to help them realise their aspirations in whatever way we can.
Please log onto the website for information or to share information on your own dementia friendly events.
Dementia Friendly East Lothian website
Telecare
You can get help from the East Lothian Community Alarm Telecare Service.
Telecare Self-Check Online Tool
Telecare is the use of discreet equipment that can help tell someone if there is an emergency or if you are having difficulties in your home. Try the Telecare Self-Check Online Tool to find advice and guidance related to your needs.
Telecare Self-Check Online Tool
Home-visiting Opticians
The following PDF contains details on home-visiting opticians in East Lothian and the surrounding areas.
Wellbeing when off work
This leaflet is for anyone off work for reasons related to common mental health problems.
Eyesight
Help with instructions
East Lothian Council libraries have magnifying sheets that you can try out. For more information, please visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210562/libraries/12318/special_community_services.
The Edinburgh branch of RNIB have a variety of resources that you can view and try out. For more information and opening times, please get in touch using the information below.
Contact information:
Email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA
For general enquiries, please email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk.
Information on eye conditions
If you would like further information about eye and sight conditions, please contact RNIB Scotland using the details below.
Contact information
Email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA
For general enquiries, please email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
The East Lothian branch have a team of rehabilitation and mobility officers who deal with people with a sensory impairment. They can provide information and practical advice, including mobility training and independent living skills training.
Please contact them on the above numbers to discuss and gain advice on how to access the service.
Local information - Benefits for the visually impaired
RNIB Edinburgh and Lothians is the part of RNIB Scotland, which provides specific local services to people with sight loss who live in Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian.
Our welfare rights service provides expert advice on welfare benefits, assistance with claiming benefits and representation at appeals and tribunals. If you'd like to find out more or get in touch, please use the following information.
Contact information
Email: lothian.benefits@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 557 1004
Alternatively, for information about the benefits available to those with a registered visual impairment, you can contact the Welfare Rights Team for East Lothian on 0131 653 5230.
You can also contact the Local Citizens Advice Bureau in either Musselburgh or Haddington using the details below.
Contact information
Organisation: Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 0131 653 2748 or 0131 653 2544
Fax: 0131 665 1141
Address: 41 High Street, Musselburgh, EH21 7DD
Organisation: Haddington Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone: 01620 824471
Address: 46 Court St, Haddington, EH41 3NP
Risk of scalding
If you are experiencing difficulties with filling your cup, glass or mug and it is placing you at risk of scalding yourself, you can refer yourself for an occupational therapy assessment by contacting the East Lothian Council’s Central Access Team on 01875 824309.
RNIB also offer advice and support on a range of issues on visual impairment and have an office with a resource centre where you can look at special equipment and aids for daily living.
For more information and up to date opening hours, please contact them using the following details.
Contact information
Email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA
For general enquiries, please email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk.
Equipment for those with low vision or visual impairment
The RNIB offer advice and support on a range of issues on visual impairment. They have an office with a resource centre where you can look at special equipment and aids for daily living in Edinburgh.
For more information and up to date opening times, please contact them using the following details.
Contact information
Email: rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
Phone: 0131 652 3140
Address: 12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA
For RNIB Edinburgh and Lothians, please email: rniblothian@rnib.org.uk
You can also refer yourself for an occupational therapy assessment by contacting the East Lothian Central Access Team on 01875 824309 for a full assessment within your home environment.
Help and services around the home
At some point in our lives, many of us due to illness, disability or old age will need some form of help with everyday things like getting washed, dressing or cooking a meal. This support is often called social care.
Asking for help is sometimes the hardest thing to do, but East Lothian Council can offer an assessment of needs and help you to identify suitable services and arrange their provision. Contact them on 01875 824309 to make a referral.
If you need help with domestic chores, there are various local care agencies that you can contact. You will be able to find their details online by searching for home help services in East Lothian. Social work no longer provides a home help service to assist with cleaning.
Care and Repair offer a small repairs service for home owners and private tenants aged 60 years or over, or who are disabled and aged 50 or over. The labour involved is free of charge, so all you have to pay for are the materials used.
If you'd like to get in touch, please use the details below.
Contact information
Website: Care and Repair
Phone: 01620 828445
Information on large print books
If you have some vision but you struggle to read regular print, large or giant print may be for you.
The size of a font is described in point size. Regular print is usually 10 or 12 point. Large print is generally 16 to 18 point size. Giant print is anything larger than this.
Your local library is probably the best place to have a look at large print books and check if they are right for you. Some high street book shops also sell large print books that you can browse through.
A range of large print books is available at all of East Lothian Council’s Libraries. There are library branches throughout East Lothian: For information on your nearest library please contact Library & Museum Headquarters using the following information.
Contact information
Email: libraries@eastlothian.gov.uk
Phone: 01620 820600
Address: Dunbar Road, Haddington, EH41 3PJ
There is also a Mobile Library service which serves the whole of rural East Lothian, following a fortnightly timetable. The Mobile Library service can be contacted at Library Headquarters on 01620 060611.
For eBook advice, please visit www.rnib.org.uk/information-everyday-living-reading/ebooks-and-digital. For Newspapers and TV guides, please visit www.rnib.org.uk/services-we-offer-reading-services-magazines-and-newspapers-rnib/big-print-newspaper-and-freeview-tv.
Success!