Project overview
Hearing loss is one of the highest risk factors for dementia. In older adults, hearing loss is also associated with loneliness and increased social isolation. Many people with hearing loss will face barriers when accessing information, community groups and services as often the content and built space is not suitable for them. Raising public awareness of hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia, and the benefits of treatments including hearing aids or cochlear implants, through community engagement, can help people stay connected and protect their health and wellbeing.
Our aim was to go into our local community and establish trust and links with a diverse range of community groups. Once we had built trust, our objective was to initiate discussion and raise awareness of good hearing and brain health. Working alongside the community group leads and our patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group members (ALL_EARS@UoS), we aimed to co-design activities which we could then take into community groups to encourage discussion and the sharing of experiences around hearing and brain health. We wanted to bring older members of the community together, to share their experience, knowledge and fears around hearing loss and dementia.
Funding: Public and Community Development Fund 2022-2023.
Our aim was to go into our local community and establish trust and links with a diverse range of community groups. Once we had built trust, our objective was to initiate discussion and raise awareness of good hearing and brain health. Working alongside the community group leads and our patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group members (ALL_EARS@UoS), we aimed to co-design activities which we could then take into community groups to encourage discussion and the sharing of experiences around hearing and brain health. We wanted to bring older members of the community together, to share their experience, knowledge and fears around hearing loss and dementia.
Funding: Public and Community Development Fund 2022-2023.
