Hearing aids advice

Shan

My mom has been in memory care for almost three months and we are still struggling to get staff to consistently assist her with her hearing aids. She has rechargeable hearing aids that need to be charged over night or they don’t work the next day. Helping her take them out and put them into the charger properly each night during bed time care, and helping her put them in in the morning are part of her care plan. Unfortunately, far too often it’s not being done correctly or at all. Sometimes when I visit I notice she has them in but they are not working so either she slept with them in all night and nobody helped her with them before bed, or they didn’t put them in the charger properly. We made a sign to post in her room next to her charger to remind staff, give them directions, and even included a picture of the aids properly seated in the charger for reference, but it’s still it being done. There are even some days like last night when I arrived after work at 4:00 and her hearing aids were still in her charger meaning nobody helped her in the morning and she spent the day struggling to hear. Other than continuously complaining to the director and head of nursing, does anyone have any advice? Are we better off getting hearing aids that use batteries and if she sleeps with them, oh well, at least they still work the next day? And how long do batteries in hearing aids last if they are always on 24/7. Will we have to be changing them often? I’m just so tired of complaining and nothing comes if it. I should add that my mom also suffers with depression and anxiety and is receiving medication for theses conditions, but we’ve noticed that even with the meds she is much happier and less anxious when she can hear what is going on around her and what people say to her. So doing without hearing aids is not a good option for her.

Ed1937

I don't have experience with them, but here's what I found with a Google search: "Non-rechargeable hearing aid batteries can last anywhere from five to 14 days, based on a 16-hour day of wear. This is dependent upon the size of the battery and power needed by the hearing aid. Typically, smaller batteries have shorter battery life than larger ones.Oct 14, 2022". So at that rate, you could get as little as 3 days plus out of them with a smaller battery and more energy required by the device. Or roughly 9 days as a maximum.

If that is part of her care plan, I wouldn't have a problem complaining about it. Obviously, something is not right with that. Hopefully they can get a handle on it.

harshedbuzz

My snarky-side wants to express amazement that your mom actually has both hearing aids 3 months into her residency in a MCF. My kinder-self, commiserates with this situation. BTDT.

Hearing aid compliance was really challenging in dad's otherwise terrific MCF, too. We ended up having them installed in the morning when he was given his meds and removed at night when his evening meds were administered. They spent the night in the DON's office but even with these measures, it didn't always happen and one went missing within 4 weeks.

I would be hesitant to get a different hearing aid with batteries because of the cost, the risk of loss and the risk that someone might ingest a battery.

HB

Jo C.

I am very sorry this is happening. Not providing the working hearing aids for your Loved One is actually a failure in care and a failure in the patient's rights; there are laws that cover this.

Since you have already spoken to nursing supervision and the DON, the next step is to use the Ombudsman for the nursing home area. You can find them online AND the NH is supposed to provide that information number to the families of their residents at the time of admission and also have it posted. The Ombudsperson will visit the NH and advocate for your LO. The Ombudsman is at no cost and it is provided for in law as outlined in federal law.

Not to provide the charging and adequate use of the hearing aids can have a significant deleterious effect on the patient resident in multiple ways including making their condition worse and isolating the patient. It could be as simple as having the night RN remove the aids and put them in the charger, and having the a.m. med nurse put the aids in when making med rounds.

https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52521-Nursing-homes-and-hearing-aids-what-you-need-to-know

Do contact the Ombudsman office, this is about the quality of life for your LO. Let us know what happens and I send best wishes for this to be resolved. You are being a very good advocate for your mother; she is blessed to have you by her side.

From one daughter to another, I send warm thoughts and best wishes your way,

J.