After her husband passed away and she retired in 1996, Isabella moved to Cardiff to be closer to family. "I wanted to be near my granddaughter," she explains. But with age, her independence began to wane—spondylitis inflicted severe pain from her neck down to her spine, and deteriorating eyesight further stripped away her autonomy.

Once an avid embroiderer and driver, Isabella found herself unable to participate in her favourite activities. Medical appointments became too difficult to attend. However, a simple advert about in-home eyecare services offered a glimmer of hope. This led her to Kamal Kalsi, a domiciliary optometrist with OutsideClinic and an active member of the Association of Optometrists (AOP).

Kamal recalls their first meeting, "She seemed quite low," but he quickly identified cataracts as the culprit behind her failing vision. Initially reluctant, Isabella continued as she was until Kamal’s next visit to her a year later."Her vision had worsened; I knew it was time to act on these cataracts."

Post-surgery, the change was profound. Isabella’s renewed ability to enjoy knitting, crocheting, and even new hobbies like crystal craft speaks volumes about the impact of effective and accessible eye care.

Kamal who has provided eye care in his community with OutsideClinic for 22 years, has received instrumental support from the AOP throughout his career. Starting as a student from overseas, the AOP’s guidance has come full circle, and he now serves as a council member, representing Wales, and helping others in the field.

Isabella's story isn’t just about her eyesight; it's about the joy and independence that she has regained. "I’ve got a wheelchair and a stair lift, which help tremendously. I couldn’t climb up the stairs before, and it helped me a lot," she mentions. Her carer helps, but Isabella prides herself on maintaining as much independence as possible, keeping busy with her crafts.

Looking forward, Isabella is optimistic. "I’m looking forward to getting better and going on holidays," she smiles. Isabella’s experience serves as a powerful example of how caring and attentive healthcare can significantly improve the quality of life for someone in their later years.

In this story, we see how the dedicated team at OutsideClinic discovered the right hearing aids that reignited this musician's love for music. It shows the critical importance of personalised hearing solutions and ensuring that hearing care is tailored to one's unique circumstances, hobbies, passions and lifestyle.

It serves as a testament to OutsideClinic’s firm belief that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't always suffice when it comes to enhancing the quality of life and enabling individuals to fully immerse themselves in their true passions.