Welcome to CNIB ’ s InFocus Webinar Series Webinar 2: Supporting Your Patients - Practical Tips &

1. Welcome to CNIB’s InFocus Webinar Series Webinar 2: Supporting Your Patients - Practical Tips & Strategies Leanne Cornell and Sumreen Siddiqui15th November 2012

2. Supporting Your Patients: Objectives • How to identify if patient may have a vision problem Participants will be able to learn about: • Practical tips for working with patients in a clinical setting • Useful tools and strategies to help maximize usable vision • CNIB services and support

3. Identifying if a Patient has a Vision Problem Questions to Ask the Patient: • Looking at my face, what exactly do you see? • What do you notice about me, eg. my clothes, shirt color, etc? • Are you having difficulty… …locating curbs and stairways? …moving around ie. are you bumping into things more often? …seeing cars on the road during the day and night or driving at dusk/dawn? …reading fine print even when wearing your glasses or CLs? …identifying paper money or coins?

4. Tips for Working with Patients • Let the patient know when entering and leaving • Speak to client directly so they know they’re being spoken to • Speak in a normal voice • Be empathetic

5. Tips for Working with Patients Making a Patient Comfortablein their Surroundings • Describe the room layout including landmarks • Ensure the patient is in a secure place, i.e. close to a wall or sitting in a chair. • Ensure there are no obstacles

6. Tips for Working with Patients Communication and Education • KISS – use SIMPLE terms and avoid technical terminology • Make no assumptions about a patients’ existing knowledge • Explain associated conditions • The patient may need help with their medications • Point out the importance of identification in case of emergencies

7. Tips for Working with Patients Patient Responsibility and Independence • Examples of questions and considerations to raise with patients • Encourage self advocacy and independence • Transportation: How do you get from A to B? Have you used wheel trans or alternative forms of transport • Finances: Do you have alternative means of keeping track of your finances? Eg. Online transactions • Mobility: Diabetes can lead to reduced sensation in feet, so patients should ensure adequate footwear to prevent cuts/injury; Does patient need training or to adopt proper instruments for navigating? Importance of Tests • Emphasize the importance of regular eye exams

8. Maximizing Usable Vision • Assess the lighting condition in the room • Do not sit/stand directly in front of a sunlit window • When greeting the patient stand at a close distance (no more than 5 feet away) • Use large print materials (high contrast, black on white, minimum 16 point bold serif type, plenty of white space) • Use black felt tip pen on white paper when writing • Be aware of patients’ needs and visual capabilities and make the necessary accommodations • Take wholistic approach • Refer patient to CNIB for an assessment

9. Maximizing Usable Vision Tools • Talking glucometer • Magnification devices • Lighting • iPhone • Filtered sunglasses and a cap

10. Maximizing Usable Vision Provincial Programs and Subsidies • Funding varies between provinces for the cost of low vision devices for people with impaired vision • Refer to local CNIB office for more information

11. About CNIB Mission Passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life. • Promotes confidence, skills and opportunities • Personalized rehabilitation support • Patients don’t have to be total blind • Nationwide presence – services vary between offices

12. CNIB – Community-Based Support Emotional and Wellness Support – understanding and advice when needed most CNIB support group Toll-free CNIB Helpline 1-800-563-2642 Vision Mate program Counseling services

13. CNIB Services Low Vision Services – make the most of the sight they have Vision Assessment Tips and tricks to maximize sight Helpful devices

14. CNIB Services Independent Living Services Orientation and Mobility Build skills to live independentlyeg. Cooking, home and personal management, personal care. Identify money, use phone, label medications, organize Communication skills eg Braille, touch typing, computer retraining Teach safe mobility techniques(indoor and outdoor) eg. Using variety of canes Community programs

15. CNIB Services CNIB Library More than 80,000 materials in alternative formats eg. braille books and audio. Email: library@cnib.ca Website: cniblibrary.ca Phone: 1800-268-8818

16. CNIB Services Assistive Technology Services Patients can receive an assessment Learn how to use assistive technologies Get the tools Eligible financial supports

17. CNIB Services Career & Employment Services(check with your province) One-on-one support Professional mentor Tuition and wage subsidies

18. CNIB Services CNIB can help give referrals and make connections to a range of community information, resources and services.

19. Eye Connect: Diabetic Retinopathy www.cnib.ca/dr - Diabetic retinopathy basics- Prevention- Diagnosis and treatment- Living with diabetic retinopathy- For Health Care Professionals- Patient Guide

20. CNIB Contacts and Resources Production of materials has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada. CNIB Website: www.cnib.ca Toll-free CNIB Helpline: 1-800-563-2642 Email: info@cnib.ca