Acceptance and adjustment: A qualitative study of experiences of hearing and vision impairments and daily life among oldest old recipients of home care.
Gro Gade Haanes, Elisabeth O C Hall, Grethe Eilertsen
PMID 31099486WHAT IT FOUND
People in their late 80s and 90s with hearing and vision loss often accept these impairments because they lack the energy to address them.
They prioritize managing pain, fatigue and serious illness over sensory aids, leading to social withdrawal and difficulty with daily tasks like reading.
Key findings
01Participants accepted hearing and vision impairments as part of aging but found them annoying, particularly when they interfered with social conversations or reading.
02Most participants were hesitant to use hearing aids due to previous negative experiences, physical limitations in handling the devices, or a belief that the effort was not worth the benefit.
03Limited physical energy and severe concurrent health issues meant participants could not prioritize sensory impairments, often withdrawing from social activities or struggling with practical tasks like changing light bulbs.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (10 participants) and drawn from a specific region in Norway, limiting generalizability. Participants were easily tired, which may have shortened interviews and limited the depth of discussion. Spouses were present during two interviews and occasionally interjected, which may have influenced the participants' responses. The study focused on experiences and did not measure the effectiveness of any specific intervention.
Declared interests
No conflict of interest declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the participants' acceptance of their impairments as a lack of need for intervention. The study shows they prioritized other health issues due to limited energy, not because sensory loss was unimportant to their quality of life or social connection.