Are you sure you want to exit? Your progress will be lost.
Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
✔
I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
✔
I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
The last 3 were at night while he slept. This time during the afternoon while he was resting in bed. He says he saw a male employee come in and take them.
It is very difficult in Memory Care to keep belonging personal - hearing aids are over the counter now so maybe that can help with replacement costs if necessary.
When family resides in a memory care facility, it is virtually impossible to keep track of their things....clothing, hearing aides, dentures, etc. I literally watched one resident take out their hearing aide, place it on the table and another resident pick it up and swallow it. I also have heard of residents going into other residents rooms and putting teeth in their mouth that aren't theirs. It's awful.
Someone suggested getting insurance on the hearing aides. That's not a bad idea. The suggestion of buying a pair in a bright crazy color is also a good idea. At least if it's on the floor or in bedding it would be easier to spot.
Unless you’ve personally seen someone take them, they’re likely not being stolen. Elders always blame items they lose on theft. Chances are he took them out, wrapped them in a tissue or napkin, then the napkin was thrown away. The same thing happens constantly with dentures.
Since high end hearing aids are custom moulded to an individual's ear canal and tuned to their hearing loss I can't see there being much practical resale value.
I am so so sorry!! Outrageous! Four times—something is afoot. I disagree with all the “cheap” hearing aid suggestions. If they worked for your dad, you’d be using them.
I suggest a written letter to “the top”, whomever that may be for this VA hospital, with as much detail as you can include, and copy everyone involved-local admin, your local political advocate, congressman. And ask what they recommend you do? This way they aren’t merely being accused but are able to give advice. The written papertrail may at least get some attention to this problem in which I am sure your dad is not the only victim. I am not tech savy, but maybe there is some tracking device.
Best practical solution is to get insurance against loss. When my mom’s disappeared (just one) in ALF, bc there was insurance on them thru manufacturer, she paid just a couple hundred for replacement of her aid which was originally thousands. Good luck!
A friend's spouse was the head of a large hearing department at a major university. He advised everyone to buy inexpensive hearing aids. Not much advantage to the others. I wish they had headsets for older people. These little buggers are hard for me, and so far I believe I am relatively cognizant.
I have to say my mom’s expensive hearing aids are completely fabulous. I don’t think she’d get as good results with cheap ones. Maybe it depends on how hard of hearing the person is. My mom us “profoundly deaf.” Anyway—this is a real problem and a serious one. If cheap ones work, great.
If he is in a VA hospital, isn't your parent eligible to get hearing aids provided through the VA audiology clinic? My husband received high quality hearing aids from the VA at almost no cost. I would think if they were having to replace them, they would take the issue a bit more seriously.
If he is capable, suggest he place them in a shoe under his bed or some other obscure place?
Sometimes it is only covered if considered a service-caused injury…though my dad was in denial despite a career in artillery and then weapons research so he wouldn’t file for it
It's probably time to buy the $25 ones on Amazon. They are less likely to get stolen and won't hurt as much to replace. I purchased these for my mother after she "lost" the expensive ones twice. She wore them once and then lost them, as I knew she would.
You will no longer be able to buy such expensive devises. I don't know really how you could keep them safe. This is a common problem we see often on Forum.
I'm kind of surprised no one else has mentioned this but here goes: if your dad has really had $5,000 hearing aids "disappear" (possibly stolen) 4 times in the last year, that amounts to a $20,000 loss. If this actually happened, then it seems to me it's definitely a police matter, and you should file a police report asap. If nothing else, if theft is afoot in his residence, a police investigation (if they do that) could deter theft of other valuable items from other vulnerable seniors. Yes, of course, as others have said, make sure they didn't slip down somewhere near his bed, chair, etc. And you are the only one who can ascertain if he has a habit of losing things (valuable things as in this case), which then turn up after he's claimed someone stole the valuable item. You + close family members are the only ones who can determine this. Good luck with sorting this all out. Not being able to hear well is an isolating handicap.
Yes ..good thought , I’d he has “lost” such expensive devices there might be a thief involved ..interesting to think there’d be a market for that kind of stolen goods. Would be also interesting to know whether other residents are missing items too- perhaps homes should have to keep a list available to those who inquire as to what is happening in their facilities. If your dad is competent , I’d pursue this idea.
For my 93-yr old Mom, I use medical tape to secure them in place. She likes to go outdoors and is worried that when she takes off her hat and sunglasses, the hearing aids will go flying and get lost.
Janijean, check under the bed as it is not unusual for such items like hearing aids or eyeglasses to fall and sit behind the criss-cross legs of a hospital bed.
My Mom's eyeglasses were missing. Sure enough, even through I couldn't see the eyeglasses, I felt them behind the large legs of the bed.
This must be an extremely frustrating situation for you. Perhaps it's time to think about setting up a nanny cam that has a view of his hearing aid charger. I wish you good luck.
All things considered, it might be time to be in touch with a VA Audiologist and ask if that person could determine whether he still NEEDS very expensive equipment (cost/outcomes ratio).
There are currently some very good devices that are priced at a fraction of the cost you’ve mentioned.
Naturally you want your dad to have the very best hearing possible, but his “very best” at present may be different from when his $5000 aids were necessary.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
necessary.
Someone suggested getting insurance on the hearing aides. That's not a bad idea. The suggestion of buying a pair in a bright crazy color is also a good idea. At least if it's on the floor or in bedding it would be easier to spot.
I disagree with all the “cheap” hearing aid suggestions. If they worked for your dad, you’d be using them.
I suggest a written letter to “the top”, whomever that may be for this VA hospital, with as much detail as you can include, and copy everyone involved-local admin, your local political advocate, congressman. And ask what they recommend you do? This way they aren’t merely being accused but are able to give advice. The written papertrail may at least get some attention to this problem in which I am sure your dad is not the only victim.
I am not tech savy, but maybe there is some tracking device.
Best practical solution is to get insurance against loss. When my mom’s disappeared (just one) in ALF, bc there was insurance on them thru manufacturer, she paid just a couple hundred for replacement of her aid which was originally thousands.
Good luck!
(copy and paste) Hearing Aids for veterans
https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/psas/hearing_aids.asp
Anyway—this is a real problem and a serious one. If cheap ones work, great.
If he is capable, suggest he place them in a shoe under his bed or some other obscure place?
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hearing+aid+leash+for+seniors&crid=2RFY6NN8K8S71&sprefix=hearing+aid+leash%2Caps%2C146&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_17
For my 93-yr old Mom, I use medical tape to secure them in place. She likes to go outdoors and is worried that when she takes off her hat and sunglasses, the hearing aids will go flying and get lost.
My Mom's eyeglasses were missing. Sure enough, even through I couldn't see the eyeglasses, I felt them behind the large legs of the bed.
so sorry to hear that. it'll be hard to prove the theft. what we do is, when my LO goes to the hospital, we always leave the hearing aids at home.
There are currently some very good devices that are priced at a fraction of the cost you’ve mentioned.
Naturally you want your dad to have the very best hearing possible, but his “very best” at present may be different from when his $5000 aids were necessary.
Good for you for being proactive on his behalf!