Losing one of the senses might be one of the most frustrating of all the changes that occur with aging. When seniors have difficulty hearing, it may cause them to withdraw from social situations, become depressed, or even feel their value has decreased. Elder care providers can offer solutions and support for seniors with hearing loss to help lessen the frustration and ensure they continue to thrive through the changes.
Tips for Communicating With Seniors Who Have Hearing Loss
While there are hearing assistive devices like hearing aids, not all types of hearing loss respond the same way to these products. Additionally, there might be better choices than these devices for seniors. This is especially true if seniors suffer from dementia or issues that make it difficult to tinker with the devices until they work correctly. Whether or not seniors have assistive devices, the following tips are good to consider when communicating.
- Respectfully get their attention before speaking to them - move into their line of sight or gently wave a hand, so they know you need their attention.
- Reduce background noise - choose quiet locations when speaking with them, or turn down the radio or television.
- Limit the number of people speaking in the conversation - take time and don’t talk over one another.
- Be willing to repeat yourself or rephrase your sentence - Speak calmly and slowly, respectfully.
- Pay attention to the lighting - the ability to see you communicate is critical.
- Pay attention to body language - as with lighting, make sure your mouth isn’t covered and maintain eye contact.
- Be patient and understanding - realize that not hearing as they once did is frustrating.
- Ask seniors how they prefer to communicate - it may be easier to write things down in detailed conversations.
Successful communication requires participation from everyone in the conversation. Showing seniors with hearing loss that they continue to have value is essential in helping them deal with continued changes. Having an elder care provider in the home increases the ability to communicate as they will work with seniors to help them feel comfortable with changes in communication style.
Activities to Help Seniors With Hearing Loss Feel Engaged
When hearing loss impacts seniors’ way of life, it is difficult for them to stay engaged, which can greatly impact their mental health and well-being. It is essential to have activities for seniors that are hearing-impaired friendly. Discussing these activities with elder care professionals can ensure that seniors receive continued support to try new activities or maintain old activities with necessary adjustments. Some of the following activities are perfect for those with hearing loss.
Arts and crafts - not only can these activities be done in a group or individually, but they also help strengthen hand-eye coordination and grip strength. In addition, they give seniors a sense of purpose and achievement.
Reading - reading is a wonderful way to help with memory retention. If eyesight is also an issue, seniors can implement magnifiers or adjustable font sizes on electronic readers. Large print books are also available.
Gardening - the simple act of being in nature and working with their hands provides various benefits for seniors. Gardening also increases their mental health by knowing they're contributing to something positive.
Adding elder care to the home can ensure that seniors receive all the support they need while working through changes that occur with aging. Beyond helping them feel comfortable about hearing loss, home care providers also help with mobility and transportation issues.
