Sight and hearing loss in older people

There are currently 220,000 older people with sight and hearing loss over the age of 70 in the UK. This number is predicted to double over the next 20 years, rising to 418,000 over the age of 70 by 2030

As we get older, so many of us have sight and hearing problems that it is often accepted as a normal part of ageing

Often this hearing and vision loss comes on gradually. Older people themselves, and others around them, may not recognise or understand what is happeningThis dual-sensory loss often goes unrecognised, or is seen as a natural consequence of ageing about which nothing can be done

Older people with sensory loss may find it harder to take exercise, eat a healthy diet, maintain social contacts, or get to the doctor amongst many other things. Unsurprisingly, loneliness and depression can creep into the picture

Some hearing and sight loss may be unavoidable, but some isn’t, which is why it’s essential that older people seek medical advice once they notice that they can’t see or hear very well and not simply accept sight and hearing loss simply as part of the ageing process

Get help

• Despite the many challenges that poor sight and hearing bring, older people can continue to live independently and enjoy life – provided people understand their needs and they get the right help
• Local authorities have a legal duty to offer a specialist assessment, which can help identify support and equipment which would make a difference to peoples’ lives

For example, a communicator guide might

• guide the older person to the shops or accompany them to the doctor
• help them with their post and bills
• help them to keep up friendships and meet others in a similar position

Free and easy-to-use resources

Sense, the national deafblind charity, has free, easy-to-use resources for family members and staff that support older people with dual-sensory loss:

• Fill in the gaps toolkit – A checklist for assessing older people with combined sight and hearing difficulties
• Enjoy Life! – Tips about communicating, getting out, adapting the home to make everyday life easier and getting specialist support for older people with sight and hearing problems
• Seeing Me – Guidance on sight and hearing difficulties for staff who care for older people

Help from family and friends

Families and friends can also contribute. Helping a family member adapt and arrange the furniture and interior space of their home to suit them can help them avoid falls and injuries. Here are some more tips:

• Use clear speech (a little slower and louder than usual with clear lip patterns, but not too exaggerated)
• Face the light so that your full face can be seen
• Avoid background noise. Turn off the TV or radio or move somewhere quieter
• Check that hearing aids are turned on and working
• Don’t hurry – take your time and check that the older person understands
• Be aware that if a person is smiling and nodding it doesn’t necessarily mean they have understood you
• For older people whose sight and hearing loss is severe, learning Braille or deafblind manual (a form of sign language using touch) is challenging but can reap rich rewards.

Simple solutions

There are also simple solutions that are quick and inexpensive to introduce

For example:

• Improve the level of lighting to suit a person
• Use colour contrast to highlight features and make them easier to find – if you serve cauliflower cheese on a white plate on a white table, people won’t be able to find their meal! So use a blue plate and that will help
• Use tactile clues to help people distinguish things. For instance, put one rubber band round the tinned tomatoes and two round the peaches

Equipment

• Loop systems, good hearing aids and personal amplifiers can all help older people to hear better. Excellent hearing aids are available on the NHS
• There is a wide range of equipment available such as textphones, tactile watches and alarm clocks that vibrate under your pillow. For people who find it hard to hear the doorbell or telephone, vibrating pagers that alert to these are available. There are literally hundreds of items to choose from to suit most people’s basic needs
• For more info you can visit the technology page on Sense’s website

*Getting an assessment from your local authority could help pay towards the cost of the equipment.

Financial support

Older people with impaired sight and hearing will almost certainly qualify for Disability Living Allowance, or Personal Independence Payment (for people up to 65), or Attendance Allowance (for people over 65). Other benefits such as council tax concessions and housing benefit may also be available

Groups & forums

There are also various Sense forums and groups across the UK, which people who have lost their sight and hearing later in life can join and get practical tips about technology and equipment, the chance to meet people with similar experiences and exchange useful information and ideas

Advice & Information

Sense can provide guidance on different ways of communicating and new ways of accessing information, help with getting around and maintaining home independence, as well as advice on applying for financial support which can help people move on in their lives and adapt successfully to their new situation

Call Sense’s Info & Advice team on 0845 127 0060 or email [email protected] for more information. Further information can be found on Sense’s website – www.sense.org.uk