If you’re caring for an aging parent with hearing loss, you might find yourself getting frustrated at times as you try to communicate with her. It can get to the point where you don’t want to try to have a longer conversation with your parent as you struggle through each sentence.

As her caregiver, this can be both frustrating and heartbreaking. You probably miss the stories of her younger years or sharing with her about what her grandkids have been up to at school. While a hearing aid will often help your elderly loved one hear better sometimes seniors don’t want to wear a hearing aid, whether it’s because it’s uncomfortable, it’s embarrassing or they just don’t see the need. The good news is that if you focus on how you communicate with your hearing-challenged parent, you can make great strides in keeping the communication flowing. You can share these tips with others who also care for your parent, such as his doctors, his home care assistance team, and other family members.

Here are some tips that may help. Try one or two or all of them, whatever helps her hear what you’re saying.

• Find a quiet place to have conversations. You’ll want to turn off the TV and close the windows if there is a lot of noise outside. Try not to have conversations when her home care assistance provider is vacuuming or washing the dishes.
• Look directly at your parent and maintain eye contact. A great place for a conversation is while sitting at the table. If your parent is sharing a meal with someone, have that person put down her utensils and then make sure your parent does the same so they can face each other as they chat. This is especially helpful to share with home care assistance providers who visit to provide companionship with your parent.
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  Speak loudly (but not yelling), clearly, and slowly. If possible, try to keep too much emotion out of your voice. You want your conversation to be natural, but also as clear as possible.

• Be patient when asked to repeat yourself. Your parent may ask you to repeat yourself several times. Show patience, slow down and clearly articulate what you just said. If your parent still can’t understand, consider rephrasing what you just said. If several people are in the conversation, make sure only one person speaks at a time.
• Keep your mouth clearly visible. Don’t hide your mouth behind your hands and try to avoid drinking, eating, or even chewing gum while speaking to your parent. Your parent may not even realize it but she might be using a bit of lip reading to understand conversations so having your mouth easily seen by your parent can help her pick up on words you have said more easily.

Staying connected is important for your parent’s mental health and conversations with those around us are one of the best ways to connect. If things get too bad, continue to encourage her to seek professional help for her hearing loss.

If You Or An Aging Loved One is Considering Home Care Assistance in Westminster, CO, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 720-780-7755.