Tips for Proper Ear Care On International Ear Care Day

Elder Care in West Hempstead NY

Throughout the world there are billions of people who are at risk of ear damage and hearing loss due to frequent exposure to loud sounds, such as music streaming through headphones. Due tothis, the World Health Organization observes International Ear Care Day on March 3. Though this day is generally observed as a means of raising awareness of these risks for younger people, as a family caregiver it is important that you recognize these risks exist for elderly adults as well.

Protecting your parent’s ears and their hearing, however, is more than just protecting them from exposure to loud sounds. On this International Ear Care Day, take the time to evaluate your parent’s care routine and identify ways that you can help to protect their ears and their hearing as they age in place.

Use these tips to help care for your loved one’s ears and hearing properly:

• Avoid excessive volume. Your elderly adult might be struggling with diminished hearing and want to turn up the volume of their music or television. They might even put on headphones to help them hear better. This, however, can damage their ear and further their hearing loss.
• Do not put anything in the ear canal. Avoid attempting to clean the ears by inserting anything into the ear canal. This includes cotton swabs. Inserting something into the cotton swab can create small cuts and scrapes along the canal, making it vulnerable to infection. It can also potentially lead to damage to the inner structures of the ear, such as the ear drum.
• Avoid alternative methods. Methods such as ear candling have a following, but there is no evidence that these methods actually work, and they can be very dangerous. This method can cause hot wax to drip into the ear, potentially leading to serious damage to the inside of the ear.

Starting elder care for your aging parent can be an exceptional way to help them pursue and maintain a higher quality of life as they age in place. An elderly home care services provider can be with your aging loved one on a customized schedule that is designed around not just their individual needs, challenges, and limitations, but also their beliefs, thoughts, preferences, and goals, and the amount of care that you are able to give them. This means that they can stay safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy while also pursuing as much independence, activity, and engagement as possible as they age in place. When it comes to helping your loved one maintain better health and quality of life such as through protecting their ear health and hearing, this care provider can help your senior understand the risks that they are facing and the lifestyle choices that they need to make in order to keep them at their best throughout their later years. This can include guiding them through appropriate hygiene and grooming, eliminating potentially dangerous activities, and others.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home elder care in West Hempstead, NY, please contact the caring staff at Family First Home Companions. Serving all of Long Island. Call today: (631) 319-3961

Sources:

http://www.entnet.org/content/march-3-international-ear-care-day

http://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2015/03/international-ear-care-day-world-health-organization-spotlights-risks-noise-induced-hearing-loss/

http://www.who.int/pbd/deafness/news/IECD/en/

https://www.earq.com/blog/9-ways-to-protect-your-ears

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Jennifer Benjamin

Co-Founder at Family First Home Companions

Jennifer Benjamin has a Masters degree in Business Administration, a graduate Certificate in Geriatric Care Management, is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is co-founder of Family First Home Companions .With a background in human resources and business management she helped to build a company that is founded on professionalism, integrity, compassion and know-how.

Jennifer has specialized training in Alzheimer’s disease through the Long Island Alzheimer’s Association and the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.She also volunteered her time with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center of Long Island for 3 years by providing cognitive stimulation to an Alzheimer’s patient group.

Jennifer educates the community about elder care and speaks to caregiver support groups, senior centers, and at professional organizations.Topics include home safety, effective strategies for family caregiving, elder care planning, and awareness about elder abuse.

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