More than sound: Safeguarding memory through hearing health

At Remuera Rise retirement village, residents John and Gillian know firsthand what it means to rediscover connection through better hearing.

“I thought I was answering people’s questions,” John recalls, “but too often I found out I’d answered the wrong one. I simply hadn’t heard properly.” For Gillian, it was her family who finally made her realise: “Mum, you’re not listening. Listen to us.”

Like so many elderly New Zealanders, hearing loss crept in slowly — unnoticed at first, then life-changing. Gillian says getting hearing aids transformed her social life:

“I can join the group conversations again, especially at happy hour. Before, I would just sit quietly. Now I’m part of it.”

Why early intervention matters

John is quick to point out that hearing health isn’t just about conversation.

“As your programme is demonstrating, it is so important to keep your hearing to protect your cognitive ability as we get older. Hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for early onset dementia. If you don’t want to go down that track, you really should do something about it.”

This is why our Retirement Village Outreach Programme goes beyond free 15-minute hearing checks. We deliver workshops that explain how untreated hearing loss can accelerate cognitive decline — and how early intervention, like hearing aids, can help protect memory, independence, and quality of life.

Audiologist Carmela Davies, a partner with Specsavers Audiology, agrees.

“Hearing loss is such an invisible disability — often the person with the hearing loss is the last to notice. That’s why these resident screenings are so important. Early intervention is key, not just for hearing itself, but for wellbeing and cognitive health in the long run.”

Carmela says the programme also helps residents reconnect with one another: “Many people find it hard to follow conversations in social settings — which in a retirement village is vital. The sessions create a safe space to talk about hearing challenges, which actually makes rehabilitation easier.”

Hopes for the future generations

John and Gillian also care deeply about the next generation. Both raised concerns about teenagers blasting music through headphones. “It’s almost impossible with teenagers,” Gillian laughs, “they think they know everything. But they need to hear the risks.”

That’s why the Foundation also works with young people through our Year 9 school screening programme, planting the seeds of hearing awareness early so that a lifetime of hearing health — and reduced dementia risk later in life — can begin in the classroom.

John’s worries extend to the workplace too: “There is so much noise exposure unprotected. If people wore proper protection, much of this hearing loss could be avoided.”

From schools to workplaces to retirement villages, the Foundation is committed to helping New Zealanders protect their hearing at every age and stage of life. Because as John and Gillian know, hearing health is about more than sound — it’s about staying connected, staying independent, and protecting the memories that matter most.

Your support makes stories like this possible

This holiday season, you can help more people like John and Gillian protect their hearing — and their memories. Thanks to the generosity of our partners at Specsavers, every gift you give will be doubled, meaning twice the impact for older New Zealanders at risk of isolation and cognitive decline.

Donate now and double your impact

An audiologist's perspective

John and Gillian’s story is just one example of how early hearing support can change lives. To see the programme through the eyes of an audiologist, read Carmela’s story, Audiologist and Specsavers Audiology Partner — where she shares why hearing health is key to connection, confidence, and protecting wellbeing in later life.

Carmela's story