One-to-one befriending service across Northern Ireland for older people who are deaf or have a hearing loss.
If you know someone who is over 55, who has a hearing loss or is deaf, and is feeling lonely and isolated, our befriending service can help provide them with social support.
Through our 'In Touch' befriending project, funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund, we can match older people living at home (or in a residential home) with a trained volunteer.
A volunteer befriender can provide company on social outings to help the befriendee regain independence, or can visit them at home for a chat over a cup of tea.
Please note: referrals to the In Touch befriending service can only be received from a trusted provider, such as a Health and Social Care Trust, GP, sensory support service, audiology, ENT, or a voluntary sector organisation.
Through our In Touch project, we also deliver Hearing Health training to staff in residential homes and sheltered housing schemes detailing communication tips, deaf awareness and equipment available for residents with hearing loss. This training can also be used as part of the CPD certification.
We can provide an information talk to all residents, explaining hearing loss and Action on Hearing Loss services.
We can also invite our Hearing Aid User Support Service to carry out maintenance and simple repairs to residents' hearing aids, if required.
For more information, please contact us at: outreachni@hearingloss.org.uk
