Supporting A Loved One with Hearing Loss in a Nursing Home

Supporting A Loved One with Hearing Loss in a Nursing Home

Robert Weissman, Au.D., B.C.A., CCC-AUncategorized

Robert Weissman, Au.D., B.C.A., CCC-A

Suppose you have a loved one who has moved into a nursing home or assisted living facility. In that case, you might be concerned about how their treatment will be managed. This may be exacerbated if your loved one suffers from a medical issue like hearing loss.

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health problem in older adults. Understanding the proper ways to meet their individual hearing needs will make a huge difference in their quality of life as they settle into their new home. You can do a few things to help ease the transition into a nursing home while still protecting their hearing health.

Get to know the staff at the nursing home.

Having a positive interaction with the facility’s employees is critical to ensuring that your loved one receives the care they need. Nursing home employees deal with a wide range of needs, and their work is often undervalued. Take the opportunity to thank the people who are assisting your loved one.

The stronger your bond, the more you’ll be able to hear about how your aging loved one is doing. When it comes to hearing aids, make sure that everyone who works at the facility knows that your loved one needs them. If they are aware of the need, they are more likely to promote usage while also being more aware of the presence of hearing loss.

Ensure your loved one is treating their hearing loss

A crucial step is to make sure your loved one has received treatment for their hearing loss. Although it might seem obvious, hearing loss is often misdiagnosed, delaying care for a long time. Hearing loss causes a reduction in hearing and perceiving sound, resulting in challenges when communicating, making day-to-day tasks more difficult. Hearing loss treatment not only relieves symptoms and improves hearing capacity but also improves overall health.

Hearing loss treatment lowers the risk of other health issues such as cognitive impairment, depression, and accidental injuries. Furthermore, people can better converse and communicate effectively, which is especially necessary for nursing home residents.

Promote the use of hearing aids

Hopefully, your loved one understands the value of using their hearing aids. Still, it’s never a bad idea to remind them! 

It can be harmful to their welfare in several ways if they do not use their hearing aid. Communication can be hampered when noises are muffled and difficult to hear, making it difficult to hold and follow conversations. People with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids can have miscommunications, affecting their ability to get on with others. Hearing aids enable them to engage in conversation and participate in activities with much greater ease and presence.

You should do the following to ensure that your loved one wears their device:

  • Ensure the hearing aid is comfortable for them, that the settings are designed to suit their needs and desires, and that they can insert and remove the device on their own.
  • Use a permanent marker to write their name on the back of their hearing aid. This means that it can be quickly recognized as theirs and retrieved if they misplace or lose it.

Help them look after their hearing aids.

When hearing aids are kept clean and clear of debris, they will work at their best. Dirt and earwax can clog the tiny parts of the ear, causing sounds that were once clear to become muffled. The majority of staff members will not have the resources to clean your loved one’s hearing aids.

Cleaning hearing aids with a soft dry cloth and removing debris from vents and cracks is fast and easy, and it keeps hearing aids working better for longer.

Create a Routine

Maintaining healthy hearing aid practices is critical for the treatment of your loved ones’ actual hearing aids. Purchase a bedside table storage case and emphasize the importance of storing them in the same manner once they are removed. If they aren’t in their head, they can be quickly found this way.

If you have any concerns about hearing loss treatment or would like to arrange an appointment for your loved one, please contact us today!