Older New Zealanders in residential care have inadequate access to vision and hearing tests, according to new University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka research.
A study published in the Australasian Journal on Ageing found regular hearing tests were undertaken by 31 per cent of older adults living at home, dropping to 21 per cent in care facilities, whereas regular vision testing decreased from 55 per cent to 32 per cent among those living in care facilities.
Dr Francesc March de Ribot
Lead author Dr Francesc March de Ribot, an ophthalmologist from the Department of Medicine, says the research is critical because it highlights how common vision and hearing impairments are among older adults in New Zealand, and reveals significant inequities in access to care.
He says older New Zealanders should receive these examinations annually in 100 per cent of cases.
"Around one in 10 older adults live with vision impairment and nearly one in five with hearing impairment, and about seven per cent experience both.
"This is relevant because it can severely affect quality of life, communication, independence, wellbeing and cognitive function."
The research shows that many older adults, particularly in aged residential care, are not receiving sufficient tests that could significantly improve daily life, he says.
"Sensory loss has a profound impact on quality of life, increasing the risk of social isolation, depression, falls, and accelerating cognitive decline and dementia.
"Because many causes of vision and hearing impairment are preventable or treatable, increasing access to regular check-ups should be considered in healthy ageing to improve health outcomes."
The researchers used up-to-date official data from across the country, collected between 2019-2020, to examine almost 50,000 hearing and vision assessments of older adults either living at home, or in aged residential care.
They found that generally, vision tests were more common than hearing tests, but that access to both tests dropped in residential care, especially in Māori and Pacific people, who had lower rates of testing compared to New Zealand Europeans.
"By quantifying these gaps, we provide evidence needed to improve early detection and quality of life for older people," Dr March de Ribot says.
"Eye checks can make a big difference as early detection of visual diseases can reduce 80 per cent of vision loss."
Older adults should make sure they are getting their vision and hearing checked regularly, he says.
"Increasing awareness may encourage older adults, families, caregivers, to prioritise routine checks."
Vision loss can often be managed effectively, particularly through highly successful interventions such as cataract surgery, and treatments that preserve sight in conditions like macular degeneration and glaucoma, he says.
"In many cases, access to timely ophthalmic care and simple visual aids can substantially improve functioning."
Visual correction is generally easier and more successful to implement than hearing, explaining why hearing aids use is low despite hearing impairment being more common, he says.
For health care professionals, the results highlight the importance of proactively screening for sensory loss—especially in patients in residential care—and ensuring timely referrals for ophthalmology and audiology, he says.
"The findings also point to clear opportunities for policymakers to promote routine sensory assessments and orientate visits as soon as there is a complaint.
"This research provides a strong foundation to have more efficient services for the needs of older adults across Aotearoa New Zealand."
Publication:
Epidemiology of Vision and Hearing Impairment in Older Community Dwelling Adults in New Zealand
Francesc March de Ribot, Hans Ulrich Bergler, Patrick Dawes, Hamish Jamieson
Australasian Journal on Ageing
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajag.70110
