Five points to check
1. Refer when everyday function changes
Specialist input may be useful when sight loss affects cooking, personal care, reading, household tasks, communication, confidence or safe movement, even if the diagnosis has not changed.
2. Escalate new mobility concerns
Falls, collisions, difficulty with steps, disorientation or reduced confidence moving around may require specialist assessment. Do not improvise cane training or outdoor mobility instruction.
3. Seek advice when simple adjustments are insufficient
If lighting, contrast, organisation or accessible information have been tried and the functional problem remains, specialist problem solving may identify other techniques or equipment.
4. Do not wait for complete dependence
Early referral can help preserve skills and confidence. Someone does not need to have stopped an activity entirely before rehabilitation becomes relevant.
5. Make the referral useful
Describe the functional difficulty, what has already been tried, the person's priorities and relevant risks rather than sending only a diagnosis.
What useful evidence can look like
Useful evidence connects the identified need, the action taken, who was responsible, what happened in practice and the outcome for the person. It should be clear enough for another member of staff to understand and use.
- Need: What was identified and how did it affect the person?
- Action: What practical support or change was agreed?
- Practice: How can the service show that the action happened?
- Outcome: What difference did it make?
- Review: Is it still working and what happens next?
Ask your service: Could another member of staff understand what needs to happen from the evidence you currently hold?