Developing awareness of deafblindness in health and social care provision for older people

Deafblindness is most prevalent in later life, with 87% of those with more severe dual sensory impairment aged 60 or over (Robertson & Emerson, 2010). The difficulties with communication and mobility caused by deafblindness are particularly profound for those in later life, where acquired communication disorders often coexist with difficulties in independent living, access to support and social isolation (Pavey, et al., 2009). Social isolation, which is a negative outcome in its own right, also means that people with dual sensory impairment may not be known to those health and social care services which could provide support for them. When deafblindness is under-recorded, it is likely that there will also be under-provision of appropriate services for people who are deafblind. Therefore, identifying people who are deafblind within the community is crucial to both the delivery of necessary support and the appropriate assessment of the level of support needed across a community.