Senior Care: NIH estimates that around half of all adults over the age of 75 suffer from hearing loss.
Despite how common it is as you age, people don’t always want to admit it. Someone experiencing hearing loss may withdraw from social situations and can become depressed. If your dad isn’t cooperating or seems to ignore you more than usual, it could be he isn’t hearing what you say. When he’s experiencing hearing loss, you need to make sure he’s supported at home. Start by taking him to a doctor to have his hearing loss professionally diagnosed. Hearing aids may help him restore some of his hearing. It could be as simple as ear wax that needs to be removed. A senior care service provider can help with appointments and home care services to help.
If his hearing loss is permanent, you can help him by hiring senior care aides. Here are the different ways they’ll help.
Assistance at Home
Can your dad hear his smoke/fire and carbon monoxide alarms? He needs to be able to. If he can’t look into systems that have flashing strobe lights to alert him. It would be best to have caregivers with him to tell him an alarm is going off and help him get out of the house.
Caregivers can also help around the home by alerting him to things that don’t sound right. If his heating system makes an unusual noise, he may not hear it, but his caregiver will. His home care aides will hear a dripping faucet or leaking pipe, too.
Transportation
Your dad may not be safe driving once he’s experiencing hearing loss. If he can’t hear traffic noises or train signals, he shouldn’t drive. Caregivers can drive him to appointments, stores, and other area businesses.
Daily Outings
How safe is your dad walking around the neighborhood? If he cannot hear cars or dogs as he walks down the street, it’s risky having him walk alone. With a caregiver by his side, he can still go outside as much as he’d like for walks in the woods or around the neighborhood.
Appointments
Hire home care aides to schedule your dad’s appointments. They’ll arrange appointments to suit your dad’s needs, and you can make sure they have transportation figured out, too. They can help him get ready and escort him to the appointment as needed on the appointment day. If he needs them to listen to the doctor and share details with you, that’s also possible.
Home care aides can help your dad adjust to life at home when he’s lost his hearing. His caregivers can answer the phone or door. Outside, they can make sure he’s safe when walking or act as his ears when he’s shopping. Call a senior care agency to make arrangements.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Mount Laurel, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Attentive Care Inc. at 1-800-493-5660
Sources:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-loss-common-problem-older-adults