Together · 20 min · For caregivers
Eyes, ears, teeth and feet
Four ordinary checks that quietly shape how well an older person eats, talks, walks and stays in touch.
Glasses that no longer suit, hearing that has slipped, a sore tooth, a painful toenail: none of these feels urgent, and all of them can change a life. Poor hearing makes conversation tiring. Sore feet make walking less safe. Keeping these four checks up to date is one of the simplest ways to help an older person stay independent.
The steps
Four small steps,in your own time.
With your parent or the person you care for, write four lines on a page: eyes, ears, teeth, feet.
Next to each, note roughly when it was last checked, and anything they have noticed: squinting at the television, turning the volume up, avoiding hard food, shoes that hurt.
Ask them which one bothers them most, and book that check first, with an optician, hearing service, dentist or foot specialist, or ask their doctor where to start.
Keep the page with their other papers, and add the date of each check as it happens, so you can see at a glance what is due.
The reason
Why it helps
Small losses in sight, hearing and comfort tend to creep up slowly, so people adjust without noticing and stop doing things they enjoy. Hearing and vision problems can make someone seem more confused or withdrawn than they are. Regular checks catch changes early, and many of the fixes are simple.
A gentle variation
If getting out is hard, ask whether any of these services can visit at home in your area. If the person is reluctant, start with the check they are most curious about, rather than the one you are most worried about.
WE · TRIBE
Try itwith someone.
Go to the appointment together if they would like that, and bring the page. Afterwards, do something pleasant nearby, a coffee or a short walk, so the outing is more than a check-up.
Try it today
Today, ask an older relative when they last had their eyes, ears, teeth and feet checked, and write the answers down.
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