Care homes and hospitals are failing residents and patients with hearing loss. That is the finding of a survey published recently by Wally Harbert, a retired director of Help the Aged and resident of Frome.
Voluntary organisations told him that many health and social care staff lack basic knowledge about hearing loss and the care of hearing aids.
Speaking today about his report, ‘When silence is no longer golden’, he said “Maintaining hearing aids in good condition is not rocket science. The essentials can be learned by sitting next to Nellie. It is not lack of money that is holding back services, but a lack of will.”
He is critical of guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and wants every care home and hospital to have staff or volunteers available to clean and re-tube faulty aids.
He adds, “Frail elderly people are among the most socially isolated people in society. Better staff training is essential and community activists can improve services at little cost, by training cadres of volunteers to clean and re-tube hearing aids.”
