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WalesOnline - News - Health News - Predicted rise in Welsh deaf-blind is a ‘ticking timebomb’
THE number of people who are both deaf and blind in Wales is expected to grow by 57% in just 20 years.
A report by deafblind charity Sense said people over 70 will be most affected with a 87% increase by 2030.
It is estimated 18,850 people in Wales are currently affected by both visual and hearing impairments. Richard Brook, chief executive of Sense, said: “The results of this research are startling.
“We are all living with a ticking timebomb as the number of deafblind individuals in Wales and the UK has been substantially underestimated and is set to rise dramatically over the next 20 years.
“It is essential the Commission on Long Term Social Care recognise and protect the needs of deafblind people and take action now to plan for the longer term.
“Local authorities and health professionals need to play their part in identifying and supporting deafblind people.
“The difficulties of deafblindness in older people are often exacerbated by a lack of understanding about the issue within parts of the medical and local authority community.
“Too often visual and hearing impairment is dismissed as part of getting old.
“Many people do not regard themselves as having a disability even if their vision and hearing has reduced to such an extent that it severely limits their ability to communicate, access information and get about.”
The report’s figures are based on analysis of current levels of deafblindness and projections based on demographic data.
THE number of people who are both deaf and blind in Wales is expected to grow by 57% in just 20 years.
A report by deafblind charity Sense said people over 70 will be most affected with a 87% increase by 2030.
It is estimated 18,850 people in Wales are currently affected by both visual and hearing impairments. Richard Brook, chief executive of Sense, said: “The results of this research are startling.
“We are all living with a ticking timebomb as the number of deafblind individuals in Wales and the UK has been substantially underestimated and is set to rise dramatically over the next 20 years.
“It is essential the Commission on Long Term Social Care recognise and protect the needs of deafblind people and take action now to plan for the longer term.
“Local authorities and health professionals need to play their part in identifying and supporting deafblind people.
“The difficulties of deafblindness in older people are often exacerbated by a lack of understanding about the issue within parts of the medical and local authority community.
“Too often visual and hearing impairment is dismissed as part of getting old.
“Many people do not regard themselves as having a disability even if their vision and hearing has reduced to such an extent that it severely limits their ability to communicate, access information and get about.”
The report’s figures are based on analysis of current levels of deafblindness and projections based on demographic data.