VISITING ANGELS TOMS RIVER, NJ 732-240-1050
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Challenging Conversations: Hearing Loss as Seniors Age

Challenging Conversations: Hearing Loss as Seniors Age

Talking Through a Hearing Problem

There you are, trying to have a conversation with an older relative, when every one of your questions or comments yields nothing but a slight nod or smile. Don’t they care about their grandchild’s first home run or what kind of food to order for takeout tonight? Are they just being rude, or are they not feeling well? What’s wrong?

The most likely explanation: they can’t hear you. It’s estimated that 25% of adults aged 55 to 64 have disabling hearing loss, which shoots up to a full half (50%) of adults aged 75 and older. Compare this with only 2-8.5% of adults aged 45 to 64, and you can understand why age plays such a significant role in hearing problems.

But what can you do about it? Seniors are often defensive about their hearing loss (if they acknowledge it at all), believing it to be a leading indicator of physical deterioration. If they can just fake their way through conversations with non-specific responses, maybe nobody will notice they can’t actually hear what’s being said.

The more important conversation is the one you must have with your loved one about their hearing loss. After all, hearing affects social connections/relationships and those connections/relationships impact quality of life. With a loaded issue such as hearing loss, the conversation is bound to be a fraught one. Here’s some advice for a successful talk:

Don’t Surprise Them in the Moment

In all likelihood, someone with hearing loss already knows something’s wrong. Those nods and smiles – they’re attempts to cover up the condition. If you spring your realization on them – “hey, I really think you need your hearing checked” – they’re more apt to become defensive, pointing to pieces of conversation that they did hear. You’re better off taking note of the problem and making a plan to address it in a less charged way later on.

Don’t Talk Down

Seniors are adults, not children. The temptation with hearing loss, however, is to slow things down and oversimplify your concerns and recommendations. Do not give in to this temptation. As already discussed, seniors likely know that something’s wrong and are straining to avoid special treatment. So, talk to them like the adults they are, explaining things calmly and clearly in your usual tone of voice. They will be more receptive to the message.

Don’t Crowd Them

This is not an intervention. Seniors can’t control their hearing loss any more than you can control a balding head or wrinkling skin. A one-on-one conversation is most appropriate, obviously in a place with minimal competing sounds. Make a plan, make it private, and make it as comfortable as possible for your loved one. In their home or as part of a quiet outdoor activity are the most conducive environments for an honest, direct conversation.

Don’t Provide a Solution before Discussing the Problem

When confronted with a problem as obvious to fix as hearing loss, you may want to move immediately past the problem to the solution: get to a doctor and get hearing aids. But for seniors who haven’t yet acknowledged their problem (out loud at least), this can be a bridge too far. You’ll want to find some common ground first, discussing in what situations the hearing loss is most pronounced and effecting, how it makes the sufferer feel, and why it’s truly a problem that needs to be addressed. Once you’re on the same page and there’s a clear link established between hearing loss and a diminished quality of life, the foundation has been set to discuss what to do about it.

Don’t Assume One Conversation is the End

No matter how it goes, the conversation is just the beginning. There may need to be additional talks. There will likely be doctor visits as well as fittings and adjustments with audiologists. Make sure your loved one knows you’re all in. The love and support you provide in this moment will extend to and through the application of a solution. You will address concerns as they come up – “I’ll look even older with a hearing aid!” – and you’ll let them have their space when it’s needed. This is an ongoing dialogue, and one that will hopefully improve your relationship, not shatter it.

Now Hear This

As we’ve seen, hearing loss is often an embarrassing topic, especially for seniors suffering through it. The key, as with many aspects of elder care, is love and support. Let’s summarize how these manifest in the conversation you should have with your loved one:

  1. Take things out of the moment – realize that an attack will harden their defensiveness
  2. Talk to adults like adults – use a straightforward and direct approach with an even tone of voice
  3. Plan out where and when to talk – make it someplace private and comfortable, and one-on-one only
  4. Listen instead of problem-solve – understand concerns, ask questions, and find a foundation for addressing the problem
  5. Be there, be there, be there – keep the conversation going and shower them with love and support through the entire process

We know this may not be a fun conversation, but it’s a necessary one. Quality of life is important and being able to hear is one of the most important determinants to quality of life. Your loved one may not thank you now, but they will in the many conversations that follow.

Serving The Greater Toms River- Brick area and communities throughout Ocean County

Visiting Angels TOMS RIVER, NJ
74 Brick Blvd #109A
Brick, NJ 08723
Phone: 732-240-1050
Fax: 732-240-0702

Serving The Greater Toms River- Brick area and communities throughout Ocean County

Visiting Angels TOMS RIVER, NJ
74 Brick Blvd #109A
Brick, NJ 08723
Phone: 732-240-1050
Fax: 732-240-0702

01-28-2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   

Visiting Angels of Toms River Receives 2022 Best of Home Care® – Provider and Employer of Choice Awards

Brick – Visiting Angels of Toms River announced today that it has received both the 2022 Best of Home Care® – Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards from Home Care Pulse. These awards are granted only to the top-ranking home care providers, based on clien tand caregiver satisfaction scores gathered by Home Care Pulse. Visiting Angels of Toms River is now ranked among a small handful of home care providers across the country who have proven their ability to provide an exceptional working experience to employees and the highest quality care to clients.

“We want to congratulate Visiting Angels of Toms River on receiving both the Best of Home Care – Provider of Choice Award and the Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice Award, ”says Todd Austin, President of Home Care Pulse. “Since these awards are based on real, unfiltered feedback from clients and caregivers, Visiting Angels of Toms River has proven their dedication to providing a great work environment and solid training to employees, while maintaining their focus on client and caregiver satisfaction. We are pleased to recognize their dedication to quality, professionalism, and expertise in home care.”

Best of Home Care providers have contracted with Home Care Pulse to gather feedback from their clients and caregivers via live phone interviews each month. Because Home Care Pulse is an independent company, it can collect honest and unbiased feedback.

“By winning both awards, we are part of a select few home care agencies in the nation.  This shows our dedication to the industry and striving to make it better every day,” says Dave Frost, Executive Director Visiting Angels of Toms River.

“At Home Care Pulse, our mission is to help home care businesses create an experience that goes beyond client and caregiver expectations,” says Todd Austin, President of Home Care Pulse. “We’re thrilled to recognize Visiting Angels of Toms River as a Best of Home Care award-winning provider and celebrate their accomplishments in building a team of happy, qualified caregivers who provide outstanding care for their clients.”

To find out more about Visiting Angels of Toms River’s commitment to excellence, please visit www.visitingangels.com/ocnj or call 732-240-1050.

About Visiting Angels- Visiting Angels is the nation's leading network of non-medical, private duty home care agencies. Licensed, bonded, and insured, we specialize in both hourly and live-in home care services for adults and seniors. From as little as 1 hour a day up to full 24-hour service, Visiting Angels provide both short, and long- term home care throughout Ocean County New Jersey. Staying Home is still the # 1 preferred choice by seniors. Simply call us to learn more about our service and how we can accommodate your individual needs. Our professionally trained staff at Visiting Angels is always available to answer your questions.732-240-1050

About Home Care Pulse

Home Care Pulse leads the home care industry in experience management, online training, and review management. Through its Care Intelligence Platform, HCP empowers home care providers to attract and retain caregivers even during a historic caregiver shortage. HCP also conducts the annual Home Care Benchmarking Study, the most comprehensive survey of home care providers in North America and administers the annual Best of Home Care awards to agencies that achieve best-in-class client and caregiver satisfaction scores. For more information, visit https://www.homecarepulse.com/.