Action needed to tackle untreated hearing loss in care homes 

More than 80 per cent of older adults living in care homes are living with hearing loss, according to a new white paper launched by Care England. Researchers say that urgent action is needed to improve support for care home residents who live with hearing loss.

The paper titled ‘Hearing Loss in Care Homes – A Call to Action’ highlights the significant risks that unaddressed hearing needs pose, from increased chances of dementia and falls to social isolation, depression, and a reduced quality of life.

The findings identify several gaps in care provision, including a lack of knowledge from caregivers and limited access to audiologists in care homes. Unclear responsibilities amongst staff also caused issues, and some care home residents experienced difficulties adapting to hearing aids or felt uncomfortable wearing them.

Related Article: Exposing common myths about tinnitus

Hearing loss overlooked in care settings

‘Hearing loss has long been overlooked in care settings, despite its profound impact on wellbeing, safety, and social connection,’ said Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England. ‘This white paper is a timely and vital resource for the sector. It provides practical, evidence-based recommendations that care providers can implement to deliver more compassionate, inclusive and effective care.’

The recommendations draw on research by the University of Manchester, spanning nearly a decade of work across 35 care homes in collaboration with Engage, experts in deaf awareness training, and Nightingale Hammerson, a charity that provides residential care for older people. This research will provide a guide for care homes to support their residents more effectively.

Key recommendations include providing better training for staff, including experiments designed to simulate hearing loss, and appointing ‘Hearing Loss Champions’ to drive best practice.

The researchers also recommend improving care home environments to help older people with hearing loss. This includes conducting environmental audits to reduce background noise and enhance lighting, as well as providing personal amplifiers and other assistive hearing technologies.

Regular hearing aid maintenance and support should become standard practice

Related Article: ‘Alarming’ health inequalities between older people in the North and South of England

The paper also suggests regular hearing aid maintenance and support should become standard practice, alongside improved links with audiology and earwax removal services. For residents living with dementia, the researchers emphasise the need for specific communication strategies to be embedded into everyday audiology care.

Dr Hannah Cross, a research associate at the University of Manchester, said providing hearing care in care homes is complex and urgently needs improvement. ‘Hearing care that is personalised, provided consistently and dementia appropriate can make huge changes to residents’ quality of life, wellbeing, independence and functioning,’ she said. ‘This White Paper will help to guide care homes in supporting their residents, and boost the priority of hearing loss within Social Care policy and regulation.’

Reduction in falls and cognitive decline

Addressing hearing loss in care homes will also bring financial benefits, resulting from a reduction in falls and less cognitive decline. Improved resident wellbeing is also likely to enhance staff satisfaction and contribute to a more positive working environment.

Nuno Santos Lopes, director of research and innovation at Nightingale Hammerson, added: ‘Hearing loss is common to the vast majority of older people with care needs, and the levels of knowledge of the caregivers remains very low. From creating the right environment to get staff, managers and relatives knowledgeable about how to engage with someone with hearing loss, there is a lot of work to do, and this document works as an easy-to-access guidance to help improve the hearing care standards.’

Related Article: More work needed to ‘push forward’ men’s health and wellbeing agenda 

Reference: Care England, Engage, Nightingale Hammerson. Hearing loss in care homes – a call to action. 2025