Complicating Recovery with a Loss of Hearing

By Andy Niska | March 10, 2017 |

Senior Care in Airway Heights WA: Complicating Recovery with a Loss of Hearing

Recovering from any major health emergency, major surgery, or injuries sustained in an accident can take time. The older a person is, the longer it can take. When that person is dealing with hearing loss, recovery can be complicated.

You want to reduce those potential readmissions.

Most people don’t think much about hospital readmission rates or how to go about reducing them. However, the federal government is placing increased pressure on hospitals and doctors to reduce these rates. It’s one of the main reasons why so many hospitals are providing more resources, support, and information.

That information can be extremely beneficial for an elderly individual during the recovery process. However, what if they have some type of hearing loss? What if they weren’t able to understand what their doctor was saying, but didn’t want to bring up their hearing loss?

It’s easy to try and disguise challenges.

Not everyone wants their loved ones or friends to know about their hearing or vision related problems. They may try to deny them themselves, but over time it’s going to become clear.

Make sure they acknowledge instructions.

Have them repeat back what the instructions were. If they can’t or get frustrated, try to determine why. They may be struggling mentally, but it could be hearing loss that is impacting their ability to hear the instructions properly.

Understand the various risk factors.

Hearing loss is most commonly associated with age, but it can be exacerbated by exposure to high decibel volumes for many years.

Offer support.

It’s not just physical support that some people require, especially after a hospitalization, but emotional support. Let them know you understand. Give them some time to answer questions if you have them. Encourage them to ask questions themselves.

They may be frustrated by struggling with their hearing, but if they get diagnosed they could end up with great devices that can allow them to hear almost as well as they could previously.

Keep them focused on the future.

They may be focused in the present, seeing so many challenges and not seeing the point in working hard to overcome them. Get them focused on the future. Remind them about the things they used to do, activities they enjoy. Maybe they would love to be able to return to those activities, if they could only get through this recovery.

When you keep them focused on the future, they may be more inclined to seek help at the moment.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home senior care in Airway Heights, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.