Aylesbury Macular Society Support Group organise telephone meeting for people living with sight loss

The telephone group is organised by sight loss charity the Macular Society, in partnership with members of the Aylesbury Macular Society Support Group.

The meetings form part of a range of new telephone and online support services introduced by the charity after face-to-face meetings of its peer support groups based in Aylesbury and across the UK were suspended following the coronavirus outbreak.

The telephone group meetings are run by the charity’s regional managers or support group volunteers and are open to anyone with macular disease, their families or friends. Further calls will be held at the same time on the last Wednesday of each month, until face-to-face group meetings can be safely resumed.

Paul Holden, Macular Society regional manager, said: “In an unprecedented situation like this, health and wellbeing must always come first. However, it’s absolutely vital that everyone who needs our support continues to receive it. Although our face-to-face services have had to be suspended for the time being, we are still on the end of the phone and would strongly urge anyone to call us if they do need our assistance.

“The telephone groups offer help in understanding macular disease and coming to terms with sight loss; exactly the way that our face-to-face support groups do. They also help us to ensure that everyone is kept up to date with all the current news and information. But most importantly, they allow people with macular disease to continue to take part in social activities, helping to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation during these difficult times.”

If you would like to call in to the group, or for more information about additional support services available locally, please contact Paul on 07769 494 087 or email [email protected]

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK. Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected and many more are at risk.

The disease can have a devastating effect on people’s lives, leaving them unable to drive, read or see faces. Many people affected describe losing their sight as being similar to bereavement.

There is still no cure and most types of the disease are not treatable. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common form of macular disease, affecting more than 600,000 people, usually over the age of 50.