My mother, in a nursing home, needs a hearing aid. She takes it out and puts it away with no memory where it is or that it's out. We have gone through multiple styles of aids and strategies for staff. We found out they were worried about her losing yet another one, so were keeping it locked up and us having to tell them if we were going to call or visit - not okay with us because she needs to hear staff and have more than superficial conversations. Deafness is more isolating than blindness!!! Some staff have taken to writing rather than speaking, and you can imagine how far that goes in terms of meaningful time.
So my sister was finally able to go into her room last week, and had ordered another hearing aid and all was well with that. They then instituted a care plan so that an RN was to check that she has it in every three hours. So now a week in, and it’s gone again.
I’m sure there are many families who have had this frustrating problem, and I fear there’s no solution, but looking to see if there’s something we have not thought of.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Someone posted a few days ago the idea that you connect a VERY thin line (like fishing line or clear sewing thread) onto the aids and connect THOSE to clips of some kind and then to the shirt of the wearer---then maybe ha's are at least mixed in with the laundry...
They also make 'device finders' (like the Amazon TILE) but they are bulky and designed for wallets, phones, etc.
If I were techie at all I'd design something like that, but tiny enough to go on a hearing aid and have it trackable. It would no doubt be expensive--but I know how much we paid for DH's hearing aids and I'd HAPPILY have paid $1000 more to put some kind of tracker on them.
The clip idea might be worth a try since it would make it more noticeable in trash or laundry.
https://www.facebook.com/ItsHearOfficial/
http://www.getsafensound.com/
http://earstay.com/
https://shop.hearinglink.org/hear-ear----hearing-aid-securing-clip-10-p.asp
https://adcohearing.com/collections/ear-care-hearing-aid-supplies-clips-and-loss-prevention
https://www.clearliving.com/hearing/hearing-aids/best-loss-prevention-clips/
Good luck!
Anyway, despite asking them to replace battery every 2 weeks, it wasn't being done. When I'd visit, I'd have to go search her room (on bedside table, on floor under bed, etc) or check and replace the battery. Despite the annoyance, we were managing... until it went through the laundry.
Previous provider was not responding to text, calls (mail box full), so it took me some time to find another. He set her up with a pair, both for the same ear, so we'd have a spare. It was just 3 years, so her extra insurance covered most of the cost. These were rechargeable, so I gave the charger to the nurse - take it at night, charge it and give it to her in the morning. That didn't last a few months, when it went AWOL (probably like the retainers, out with the meal trash, as she kept taking it out.) From then on, any time she took it out, the nurse would take it away. Sure, that protects the hearing aid, but like most "activity", use it or lose it. By not having it, the loss became more pronounced. It was so sad to have another resident tell me she thought mom was just rude or something, because she wouldn't respond. I told her mom had hearing loss, but she likely wouldn't remember it later. I did get mom a Boogie Board (LCD tablet you can "write" on with a stencil, and erase - saves finding a scrap of paper!) Staff even liked having that. Mom could often figure out what you were saying/asking, if it was minimal or you could pantomime, but anything longer, best to write it down.
I think the ideas of having a fishing line, or some stronger thin thread attached might have helped - like having eyeglass cords, but attached to the back shoulder or neck area, where she can't reach. Since it would likely have to be pinned there, attach a label as well, to help prevent it going through the laundry. It would dangle when removed, so the thread/line would have to be strong enough not to break. I do see on search for hearing aid cords, they do sell them, some which just go behind the head, attaching both together or with clips. I would have tried them, had I known they existed! I'd thought about those "tiles", but they seem too big... however, one site suggested this:
"Tether and tile
A solution that’s not as popular but very effective is connecting a tether and tile to the hearing aids. This method will help locate the hearing aid when the tile is paired to a smart phone. Most hearing aids can be modified to accommodate the tether. The tether when attached to clothing, provides added security."
So instead of or in addition to a tag to prevent laundering (label with name too, for easier ID), you could attach the tile to the tether, making it easier to locate.
Some or all of these ideas might help, but you'd still be reliant on staff to be more diligent.
Google on this and your searching for hearing aids will be in the past.
There are a few simple things like putting the glasses on a necklace with a big name tag on it and having a second pair made with a cheap frame that you keep just in case. Maybe the hearing aides can be attached to a brightly colored head set. I would ask her doctor about that. That would make them more visible and less likely to get tossed. I don't have any suggestions for teeth. LOL There is nothing more disgusting than one resident putting another residents teeth in their mouth, but it happens.
In the beginning it is maddening because there is so much out of your control. You have to do the best you can and know that she is safe, she's warm, she is fed. The other stuff is just a continuous puzzle that has to be worked.
Good Luck Chris52.
As with my patients, my Dad was stunned at how well he could hear. Family and friends and staff put the ear pieces in and hold the end of the stethoscope and speak into that end. If medical personnel can hear heart beats and faint lung sounds, speaking voices are easy to hear.
Magic!
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