SOMERSET NHS Foundation Trust has joined forces with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) to provide a hearing aid support service for residents, their families, friends and colleagues in care homes across Somerset.

There are over 80,000 people in Somerset with moderate, severe or profound hearing loss, and this is rising with the ageing population.

Hearing loss is the second most common disability in the UK. However, as an invisible disability, it so often goes unnoticed.

More than 4,000 older people in Somerset live in care homes and are disproportionately affected by hearing loss, with approximately 75 per cent of residents having an issue with their hearing.

Unassisted hearing loss can have a significant impact on older people, leading to social isolation, depression, reduced quality of life, and loss of independence and mobility.

The new partnership between Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and the RNID – the national charity that supports people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or tinnitus – will provide basic hearing aid repairs, hearing checks, information and signposting​ to the 200 care homes across the county.

The service will be run by highly trained volunteers who will also work with care home colleagues and the families of residents, to promote awareness of hearing loss and support with communication.

Only 41 per cent of the general public are confident when communicating with people with hearing loss, so this service is expected to play a big part in increasing confidence and skills of the public and care home colleagues to invite those with hearing loss back into the conversation.

Emma Ralph, an audiologist and audiology manager at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Providing this service in Somerset will improve access to hearing services, reduce the issues associated with hearing loss such as loneliness and isolation, reduce travel times, and, most importantly, improve patient experience.”