Hearing also deteriorates with age. Speak to older clients slowly and clearly, and watch and listen for feedback. If you suspect that someone doesn't understand what you're saying, repeat yourself or paraphrase your comments. Arthritis and loss of muscle tone can hamper the mobility of older persons. Physical accessibility issues are important to agencies serving seniors.
Medication can dull alertness and further compromise sight and hearing.
Sue also warned the audience that the impairments which accompany aging can isolate seniors. General health problems and spending increasing amounts of time confined to ones home can lead to depression, and it's not uncommon for seniors with hearing problems to gradually start to feel that other people are whispering in a conspiracy to deny them information. In closing, she discussed vulnerability issues. Human service workers need to be alert for signs of problems and to look into them when they occur. All of the speakers agreed that what persons with disabilities want more than anything else is just to be treated like persons . . .