topic Re: Need help with elderly parent in Community Chat

Need help with elderly parent

mjabby — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 15:24:43 GMT

My mother has hearing aids in both ears and lately when I call her every morning to check on her and have our morning chat, I have noticed that she is having a harder time understanding me on the phone. Is there a phone I can puchase or a service that is offered that would make it easier for her to hear on the phone? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

PAlady — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 15:29:20 GMT

In the catalogs geared towards seniors is a phone that you can turn the volume up very high, we got one for my grandfather and he loved it. I will try to find the name of the catalog for you.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

PAlady — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 15:30:50 GMT

Also, go on Amazon and check, there are some there.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

violann — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 15:44:56 GMT

Contact her phone service provider company. There are some helpful devices that you may be able to get at free/reduced rates.

some wireless and cell phones are better than others. Your county office of the aging may be able to help with that question.

also try a Google search "Best phones for hearing impaired elderly"

Re: Need help with elderly parent

151949 — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 16:12:47 GMT

My father was deaf - they have phones where there is a light that blinks when it rings so they see the light and know to answer it. There are many that have volume control and some that actually have a screen that prints out what the person says. When you use one of those phones you do have to be patient as they are slower than normal conversation, and also if you don't speak distinctly it will make errors. However, until those came out my Dad was totally unable to use a phone so it was wonderful for him.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

gmkb — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 16:31:14 GMT

Abby96, there are several things you can do. Go to captioncallphone.com and you can request a free (paid by taxpayers) phone that prints what is being said. I have this phone and it works beautifully. Her audiologist can also arrange for this phone.

Also, in the state of Florida. (and probably other states as well), your Mother's audiologist can order a hearing assist phone for her. This has a much louder volume than a normal phone. It is also free.

Her hearing aids might also need an adjustment by her audiologist.

It is very difficult for hearing impaired to hear on the phone - a constant source of frustration for both parties.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

Perkup — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 16:56:48 GMT

I understand your problem soooo well. DH has been through three sets of hearing aids, which helped him somewhat during earlier years. He lost most of his hearing when a mortar shell blew up on a Pacific Island, killing his fox hole buddy in WWII. Now he has reached a point where his doctors tell us he can no longer be helped with hearing aids.

First, get your Mom evaluated with a hearing aide specialist - not a sales floor person, but an MD who knows how to properly evaluate her situation.

A new set of hearing aids may solve her problem. If not, your next step is to find a phone that works with her problem.

We now have a phone made by a company called (I think) Ultratec. It is called a CapTel 801i. This machine has been a life saver for my husband. It features a volume control with a wide range. It also has a small vertical screen (about 4x4) which prints out the words being spoken. If he can't hear it, he can read it. The words are a short moment behind the actual speech, but close enough to make conversation comfortable. I believe we originally found the phone from a magazine ad, but I feel sure you can find it on one of the shopping sites or by contacting either Ultrratec or CapTel. I don't remember what we paid. It wasn't cheap, but well worth the money.

I can also tell you that at some point the original phone developed a small problem. When he contacted the manufacturer, it was replaced with no charge. We are very pleased with this machine, and I would recommend it to anyone with hearing issues.

Hope this info helps with your Mother. Bless you for keeping in close touch with her. I am sure it means a great deal to her.

Back with more . .. I found the instruction book. It says CapTel Customer Service can be reached 24 hours a day 7 days a week at 1-888-269-7477. Also email at CapTel@CapTel.com or Online at www.CapTel.com

Good luck!

Re: Need help with elderly parent

mjabby — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 20:20:54 GMT

I am sure my mother will benefit greatly from all your wonderful suggestions, thanks for the help!

Re: Need help with elderly parent

kiamom23 — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 20:24:03 GMT

My dad has two hearing aids and we found that he had an easier time hearing on the phone if he put it on speaker phone. I don't know why that works, but give it a try.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

Noel7 — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 20:41:48 GMT

@mjabby wrote:
My mother has hearing aids in both ears and lately when I call her every morning to check on her and have our morning chat, I have noticed that she is having a harder time understanding me on the phone. Is there a phone I can puchase or a service that is offered that would make it easier for her to hear on the phone? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

****************************

Yes, my suggestion is to call her phone provider. They can offer services for the hard of hearing FREE.

I think that includes a special telephone that also sends a written message on the phone to her of what the caller is saying.

Good Luck!

EDIT:

I just checked and the free program may just be in California, it's not clear. But I did google "hard of hearing phone service FREE" and there is a lot more information about services.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

IndiaRose — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 22:00:01 GMT

Excellent recommendations. I had to find a device for my Dad and the local phone company was very helpful

Re: Need help with elderly parent

aubnwa01 — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 22:20:59 GMT

A neighbor where I used to live was almost totally deaf from an illness he'd had in his early adulthood & he wore hearing aids in both ears & he had a hard time finding a cell phone that would work for him. I'm not sure if he ever found one, but the frequency or something in the cell phones would make his hearing aids squeal when he tried to use them. This was 10 years ago or so, so hopefully, the technology has improved by now. I think he had a hard time with his home phone, too & always handed the phone to his wife to speak for him. It was frustrating for both him & anyone that called him.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

Kachina624 — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 22:47:42 GMT

Every state has a state agency assigned to serve the deaf and one for the blind. They have information on all kinds of devices to make life easier for these people. In Albuquerque, they actually have a "blind" store. Look in the government pages of your phone book.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

croemer — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 01:10:06 GMT

I have seen phones advertised that transcribe what a caller is saying to Text in large letters.

Re: Need help with elderly parent

violann — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 14:42:25 GMT

I HATE to have to say this, but unfortunately the field of "hearing impaired and non-hearing" is also AWASH with money making gimmicks that don't really help.

Be cautious and investigate carefully whether the equipment available is REALLY worth having or just available to make money for the seller.