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People with impaired hearing might need extra support because of their hearing loss, or they might have other conditions that require assistance, as well. Providing care for a loved one living with impaired hearing can be a challenge for PCAs, and it’s especially important to consider their safety when no one else is around.
Here are four safety tips for caregivers to ensure you can help protect the recipient of care, while still giving them dignity and comfort of living in their own home.
Technology can often be a great assistance when taking care of a disabled person, but the cost can sometimes be a barrier. Hearing amplifiers are a cost-effective hearing solution, similar to a hearing aid but often for much less of the cost.
Amplifiers do exactly what they sound like they do; they attach to the ear amplify sounds so that the recipient of care can hear better. This lightweight and budget-friendly amplifier from Amazon is a prime example of a useful aid that isn’t very expensive.
Everyone has certain safety equipment around their homes to stay safe, from smoke alarms to carbon monoxide detectors. The majority of these devices rely on sound to raise the alarm, which might get missed by someone with hearing loss, leaving them vulnerable to the dangers.
Smoke alarms with strobe lights are a great alternative to warn people with impaired hearing of fire and smoke that could be dangerous to them. Consider looking for alternatives for other warning equipment around the home, just in case an accident should happen while no one else is with them.
Hearing the doorbell ring might also go unnoticed by someone with impaired hearing. You can also get alternative doorbells that light up or vibrate when it’s rung, instead of making a noise, making it possible for the recipient of care to know when someone is at the door.
Another useful alternative is setting up motion detectors that connect to a phone or alarm, to let the recipient of care know when someone is walking around outside. You can set these to timers, so they are only active at night, for example, and can help the person with impaired hearing feel more secure in their home.
A phone signaler, either for mobile devices or a cable phone, can be useful for alerting the person that their phone is ringing, making sure they are contactable and can use their phone more easily.
Using technology like this to take care of disabled family member empowers recipients of care with impaired hearing to stay in their own home and enjoy their independence, while it allows PCAs and loved ones to leave them on their own without fear for their safety.
If you have a loved one who might benefit from home care services, don’t hesitate to contact a Best Care, your Minnesota home care agency!
