Audiology training made available to Stockport care home staff

Nursing and residential home staff in Stockport will now be able to offer improved support for the hearing impaired, following specialist audiology training from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

Audiology specialists in the trust have launched a service visiting care homes to provide hands-on training for their staff to better recognise and respond to hearing loss. Training also included how to help and respond with hearing aids.

The course helps care home staff provide residents with more of the support they need, improving quality of life and reducing pressure on other hospital and community health services.

Around 71% of over 70s have hearing loss; people with moderate hearing loss are also three times more likely to suffer from dementia. Hearing loss can also lead to care home residents not taking part in social activities, and can also prevent them accessing other necessary healthcare.

The training is being provided by the trust’s audiology team based at Stepping Hill Hospital, delivered by qualified and registered audiologists.

Mellor Nook Care Home near the Stockport and Derbyshire border was the first home to receive the course.

Lucy Hughes, Audiology Clinical Lead said:

Hearing loss is one of the most common health problems for care home residents in Stockport, and without  regular care and attention this can lead to further problems, from isolation to other health issues. Having support available in the care home itself is much easier for them than having to travel to visit a clinic elsewhere. We’re very pleased we can now offer this training to care home staff to provide their residents with the advice and technical support they need, where they live. ”

Image: Mellor Nook care home staff (front row, L-R) Patricia Green, Julie Clay, Kamonchanok Pechwisai and Sarah Barnes, with audiologist (behind) Sally Anne Crolla.