Sound Advice on Hearing Loss in Older Adults

Hearing loss is a common effect of aging, affecting over 33% of Americans over the age of 65 and over 50% of Americans over the age of 70. Unfortunately, there is some resistance against getting a hearing aid amongst people with moderate to severe deafness. Loss of hearing has a much greater impact on quality of life than many people imagine, so the team behind the exceptional assisted living community at The Shores is raising awareness about how hearing loss can affect seniors’ quality of life.

Why you’re not doing fine if you have hearing loss

Moderate to severe hearing loss has a significant impact on quality of life for seniors, becoming an issue that causes:

• Safety concerns – A person could fail to hear medication instructions or if there is a knock at the door or an intruder in the house. They also may not hear approaching traffic, another driver honking their horn, or safety alarms and sirens going off outdoors or in their home.

• Lower quality relationships – Hearing loss negatively impacts personal relationships. Whether an older person withdraws from conversations because they struggle to engage and understand what’s going on, it makes it very difficult to communicate and interact. People with hearing loss who don’t use hearing aids can also be easily viewed as confused, disorientated, unwelcoming, arrogant, or inattentive.

• Mental and physical health conditions – When a person struggles to interact with others or stays home out of safety concerns, their mental and physical health will eventually deteriorate. They can suffer increased anxiety, higher stress levels, depression, and mood disorders. They will also be less likely to get the level of exercise needed to keep their body strong and healthy. This can have a negative impact on common chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Although hearing loss can be gradual and considered a normal part of ageing, it has a huge impact on quality of life. The good news is that modern technology related to helping hearing loss is nothing short of miraculous, restoring this sense and helping seniors live more independently and abundantly. Our senior care professionals recommend having annual hearing tests if you are over the age of 60 and, when the test results indicate it’s time, speaking with your doctor about high-quality hearing aids and how insurance and/or Medicare can help pay for a lot of this worthwhile expense.

Assisted Living at The Shores

The Shores is a beautiful community offering assisted living for independent seniors, as well as specialized memory care, rehab, and skilled nursing in Cape May County. Our team is passionate about helping seniors live full and rewarding lives in a safe and welcoming environment. With a great calendar of events and social activities, some of the best dining in town, and spacious apartment-style living, we’re the best place to be for senior living. To find out more about assisted living at The Shores in Cape May County, give us a call or visit our website at https://theshores.umcommunities.org/

Original content posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/sound-advice-on-hearing-loss-in-older-adults/