Practitioners’ Messages

● Rising life expectancy and increasing numbers of older people means more individuals are affected by dual sensory impairment.

● Raising awareness of problems and potential solutions is essential to maximising individual quality of life and minimising social isolation.

● Dual sensory impairment in older people may be seen as “normal” and not identified as problematic or as a disability.

● Simple interventions, such as ensuring regular sight and hearing checks or holding conversations in well-lit areas, can be very effective in improving the quality of life of people with dual sensory impairment,

● Families, carers and other “non-specialists” can play a crucial role in early identification.