Hearing loss impacts a large percentage of seniors. In fact, 75% of individuals aged 70 years or older have hearing loss, making it the 3rd most common health condition in older adults.1 Moreover, more than just individual's loss of hearing, this hidden disability has implications for cognitive health and mental health care.
Both hearing loss and dementia can have serious ramifications for families, friends and colleagues.
Caring for someone with hearing loss
Understanding Alzheimer's disease and dementia
The National Institute on Aging defines dementia as, "The loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities."
There are various types of dementia. The most common, Alzheimer's disease, impacts an estimated 5.7 million Americans in 2018.2 Fighting Alzheimer's disease can pose a huge burden to families as they struggle to find the right help for their loved one, either in a home or professional care setting. As the brain functions deteriorate, an individual's needs can exhaust resources, whether financial savings or a family's desire to take care on a patient in-home.
The Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America are two organizations that provide resources for families and patients. If you have a loved one with Alzheimer's disease of other forms of dementia, these groups may have local support groups.