Carolyn Cooper, Age Care Commissioner, urged Grey Power members at the AGM in Wellington to have their hearing checked as hearing loss has been proven to be a risk factor for dementia. Carolyn has recently called for a higher subsidy for hearing aids to make them more affordable – “The cost of hearing aids is forcing some older New Zealanders to import their own devices from overseas or turn to retailers like Costco.” She is concerned that thousands of older Kiwis cannot afford to treat their hearing loss, which puts them at higher risk of dementia and other major problems like social isolation. In an address to the “Audiology and the silver wave” webinar hosted by the NZ Hearing Industry Association, she called for the Government to provide hearing aids for everyone who needs them, including the costs of assessment and fitting.