Hearing Aids, Assisted Living, and Why Some Seniors Constantly Lose Them

December 14, 2016 by ·

Assisted Living in Chickasaw AL

When you review some discussion boards at various sites regarding assisted living, there are a wide range of topics people discuss. One of those topics has to do with hearing aids.Assisted-Living-in-Chickasaw-AL

A lot of loved ones see their elderly family members losing their hearing aids in many different situations. Some question about whether or not assisted living facilities should be responsible for those hearing aids, and whether or not they should replace them, if the senior resident loses them on their premises.

It’s not as clear-cut of a case as one might wish to believe.

While seniors are certainly choosing assisted living because they have difficulty maintaining their own lives in a safe and healthy manner, that doesn’t mean the facility is responsible for every single thing the senior relies on, whether it’s a hearing aid, eyeglasses, or anything else.

In most facilities, there are numerous residents for every single staff member. There are also many facilities, rooms, and activities seniors can take part in and visit on a daily basis. If the senior is walking around and checks out a movie playing in the entertainment room, places his or her glasses down, whether they are for distance or reading, get up and go to another activity and forgets where they put them, is that the responsibility of the facility?

There are going to be times when things are misplaced and lost. When it comes to a hearing aid, it can be a tremendous expense for the senior and/or his or her family to replace it.

If an elderly resident has difficulty keeping track of certain things, especially a hearing aid, they should sit down with the administrators at the facility to work out a plan to reduce or even eliminate the risk of losing the hearing aid. A plan might include a staff member assisting the senior in the morning by handing it over. The hearing aid could be placed in a safe and secure spot within the senior’s residence.

However, if the senior takes the hearing aid out during the day, at a certain activity or other place in the facility or off grounds, the staff is not going to know about it until later in the afternoon or evening.

The best thing anyone can do is speak to an administrator about these potential issues. Work out a reasonable plan and be understanding with regard to memory loss and other challenges seniors may be facing, which are often exaggerated when living at home alone.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Chickasaw, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

 

Filed Under: Assisted Living in Chickasaw AL · Tagged:
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
Google Verified Author