My mother is assisted living which apparently has no assistive devices for residents who are hard of hearing. She has hearing aids, but they tell me she can't hear the fire alarm, I find this hard to believe. Anyway I have a bedshaker on her bed, a flasher that goes off when the fire alarm goes off. What other types of thing can I get that can help in this situation?
Otherwise, she can't remain at the assisted living facility. And I cannot take her in and she cannot afford a nursing home, nor does she need to be in one. So any devices that people know of that could help would be greatly appreciated.
I think I might call the State Ombudsman to find out about state regs regarding this issue.
Has mom settled In? Last time you wrote she'd just been diagnosed with a UTI.
Now, the Aides would run to the other rooms to get residents who were either hard of hearing or needed help walking. I am really surprised your Mom's Assisted Living doesn't take that into consideration since so many elders are now hard of hearing.
I really think this should be the facility's issue, not your mother's.
You could contact various other ALs on the pretext of interviewing them for a potential placement, and ask them how they handle this issue.
You could also contact the local fire department and ask if they have any suggestions, since this could be a safety issue.
I'm glad you raised this issue; although I'm not looking for an AL facility now, I keep lists of things to check out and this would be one.
Could your mother get out when the flasher activates, and in the event of a real fire?
I just don't know how to solve for the hearing situation. I may try to contact the fire department as you recommended or a hearing loss association as she just can't be the only one with this issue in the entire state.
Surprise, they have alarms, and offered to put a flasher. The problem is if she falls asleep in her recliner or when she goes to bed she wasn't responding to the alarm so that is why I needed to the get system. There are F1 and F2 ALF the requirements are:
In the event of a fire, people living in F1 residences are able to remain in
their room and wait for rescue, while people living in an F2 building must be able
to leave the building within a specified time. People who live in a F2 building have
to be more mobile.
Which I didn't know and wasn't told when I picked the facility. But now she is able to stay there which makes things easier since she just moved there in May and is finally used to it and has made some friends.
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