Fill in the Gaps

Sense Sense is a national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. Our vision is of a world in which all deafblind children and adults can be full and active members of society.

Deafblind Persons are regarded as deafblind if their combined sight and hearing impairment cause difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility Statutory guidance on social care for deafblind children and adults must be followed by local authorities

Why older people? 22% of people over 60 have a hearing and sight impairment 2 million with hearing and sight loss 7% over age 75 have moderate or severe hearing and sight loss. 276,000 people

What does it mean to be a deafblind older person Restrictions to social life 33.7% would like to undertake more social activities Mental health problems 6 times more cognitive problems 2.7 times more depressive symptoms Illness and mortality more likely to be unfit / frail and have falls high blood pressure 1.5 times higher heart problems 2.4 times higher stroke 3.6 times higher

Why a campaign? Sense outreach workers identified two problems: People don’t get referred for help When they are referred, older people’s teams don’t know what support to give

What causes the problem? Social services divide older people’s services from adult services Older people’s services don’t take account of sensory loss Everyone sees sensory loss as a natural part of the ageing process People don’t know what they/their family member are entitled to People don’t know what action to take

What can be done? Simple solutions can improve lives a lot Communication Clear speech with good lighting and no noise Amplifying speech Write things down in large clear letters with a thick pen Block and deafblind manual Mobility & the environment Lighting, noise, contrast and avoiding dangers Location clues, trails and routes Guiding Information Frustration and boredom Isolation

The campaign Professional targets: Older people’s teams in social services Care homes/domiciliary care Staff in GP surgeries

Professional resources Resource packs Range of materials aimed at the different targets: Social services – 2006 Care homes – 2007 GP surgeries - 2008 Training events

How did year 1 go? Resources were so popular we had to re-print 130 people attended professional seminars All those attending said they were likely or very likely to use what they learned (72% said very likely) Evidence of action following seminars

The public Raising awareness amongst the public, especially those aged 50 – 70 Information booklet available from Sense Media campaign to publicise Briefing for other organisations information services

Public Launch Week of 16 July 2007 Just because you can’t see or hear too well…. Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the Good Life Celebrity support

Policy Putting dual sensory loss on the agenda Seminar for key policy makers (November)

What this might achieve long term Higher profile for dual sensory loss Mainstreaming of dual sensory loss in older people’s services Luna gets what she needs

www.sense.org.uk/fillinthegaps