Care home providers are being urged to make hearing loss a greater priority after sector leaders warned that the condition is often overlooked despite affecting the vast majority of residents.
Deaf awareness training specialist Engage and Care England have launched a nationwide campaign designed to improve awareness and practical support for people living with hearing loss in care settings.
According to the organisations, at least nine in ten care home residents experience some degree of hearing loss, yet fewer than a quarter of those who could benefit from hearing aids use them. Only half of residents living with dementia are said to receive support with their hearing.
The campaign highlights a particular knowledge gap among frontline teams. Staff may receive little practical training on tasks such as maintaining hearing aids, changing batteries, recognising when a referral is required or adapting communication to residents’ needs.
Engage and Care England argue that relatively straightforward changes could have a significant impact. These include reducing unnecessary background noise, improving lighting to support lipreading and facial recognition, adapting communication techniques and ensuring staff understand how to manage hearing technology.
The initiative follows a 2025 white paper produced by Engage in partnership with Care England and Nightingale Hammerson, which called for greater recognition of hearing loss across the sector.
Padraic Garrett, Head of Engage, said hearing loss can directly affect residents’ “communication, relationships, wellbeing and inclusion”, adding that the campaign aims to help providers build staff confidence and ensure residents remain connected with those around them.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said effective hearing support can be “transformative” for residents’ health and wellbeing.
“This campaign drives rapid, practical improvements through a small number of everyday actions that any care team can embed into their practice,” he said. “Get this right, and you improve communication, safety, wellbeing and quality of care for the people who need it most.”
The campaign will provide care providers with practical resources, webinars, expert guidance and supporting materials over the coming months.
Activity will culminate in an in-person event in London on 17 November 2026, bringing together national care sector leaders to share learning and discuss how better hearing support can be embedded into everyday care.
Providers can access further information and campaign resources through Care England’s Small Changes, Big Difference campaign.
Care providers interested in finding out more and accessing campaign resources can visit here.
