TV FAVOURITE Alison Hammond is backing a campaign aimed at helping more vulnerable people across Somerset access sight and hearing care.
Optician Specsavers is urging more people to take up at-home health checks, including carers and those unable to leave their home unaccompanied or without support.
Alison joined a Specsavers Home Visits team as part of efforts to raise awareness of the issue.
During her time shadowing Specsavers Home Visits optometrist Julie Benson on her rounds, the TV personality said: “I had no idea how much goes into a Specsavers Home Visit until I joined the team myself.
“We met so many amazing people who simply can’t get out, and being able to visit them in their homes makes such a difference.
“As well as assisting with the eye test and helping customers choose their glasses, I got to have a proper chat with them and hear all about their lives.
“Seeing the difference these services make genuinely touched me and made me realise this is so much more than a job.”
Specsavers research showed nearly one in two (44%) of people who can’t leave their homes without support are missing out on essential sight and hearing care, with 29% of carers across the south west saying the person they care for has had their eyesight negatively impacted because they cannot get to a store.
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Julie Benson, Specsavers Home Visits optometrist, added: “We visit hundreds of people each week who simply can’t get to a store due to physical or mental health disabilities. We get to know them and what matters day to day.
“While we’re there to help with their eyesight, the impact goes far beyond that – poor vision can knock confidence or increase loneliness, especially in people who live alone.
“Delivering the high-quality clinical care you’d expect from Specsavers, tailored to their individual needs, genuinely transforms their everyday quality of life.
“Our research also shows that many people who cannot leave their home without support have a reduced ability to take part in hobbies or social activities due to difficulties with their vision or their hearing.
“The impact of this is significant, with 31% of those with vision difficulties saying they feel like a burden on their loved ones or carers and 38% saying they have increased reliance on others for daily tasks.”
The Home Visits service provides eligible people with a comprehensive, NHS-funded eye test in their own home.
Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK, said: “Access to home-based healthcare services, like home eye tests and hearing checks, are essential for people who can’t leave their homes independently.
“It also makes a tremendous difference to unpaid carers, the family members and friends who support them, because they often spend a substantial amount of time coordinating their care needs.
“When someone can see or hear more clearly, their confidence grows and their quality of life improves in ways that really matter. And for unpaid carers, knowing their loved one is in safe hands and receiving the care they need brings enormous peace of mind.
“We recognise how vital services like Specsavers Home Visits are in helping families feel supported, reassured and less alone.”
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