The TV presenter swapped the red carpet for the living room, joining the Specsavers Home Visits team to help deliver vital eye and hearing tests to people who can’t leave their homes.
TV favourite Alison Hammond has taken on a brand new role; swapping celebrity interviews for eye and hearing tests as she joins a home visits team bringing vital care to people who can’t leave their homes. In a heartwarming new YouTube mini-series, Alison shadows the Specsavers Home Visits team on their rounds, putting her tea-making skills to the test, sharing laughs, singing, and helping customers choose new glasses.
Along the way, she meets people unable to get out for appointments and hears all about their lives. The initiative comes as research reveals nearly one in two (44%) people who can’t leave home without support are missing out on essential sight and hearing care.
More than a fifth (22%) of carers say the person they look after has suffered worsening eyesight, while 14% report untreated hearing loss due to the difficulty of getting to a healthcare provider.
Among those Alison met was David from Southampton, whose mobility has been affected by a fall. “It was such a treat to meet Alison. I’ve seen her on television, so it made the day feel really special,” said David. “The Home Visits team has been incredibly kind since my fall — their expertise and care really puts you at ease.”
During her time shadowing Specsavers Home Visits optometrist Julie Benson on her rounds, Alison Hammond said: “I had no idea how much goes into a 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.”
The research also highlighted the impact of missing out on care as nearly a third (30%) of those with vision difficulties are more prone to accidents, and over a third (35%) have lost confidence.
Almost half (47%) said they’re unable to enjoy everyday activities like watching TV, reading, or socialising due to untreated sight issues. Loneliness is another major concern, with 27% of carers saying the person they care for feels isolated because of poor vision and 26% due to hearing problems.
At-home services offer a lifeline, but awareness remains low as less than half (49%) of carers know these services are available, and only 10% say the person they care for has ever had both an eye test and hearing check at home.
Julie Benson 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 high-quality clinical care, tailored to their individual needs, genuinely transforms their everyday quality of life.”
Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK, added: “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.
Source: Mirror
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