Is it worth DM with advanced dementia going to a hearing aid appointment?

[Flamingpantoufles]

DM moved to a nursing home around 6 months ago. She is very confused, particularly around location but also timeline etc. She has Dementia with Parkinson's so lots of hallucinations, paranoia etc.

Anyway, I'd totally missed the fact that she has a hearing aid appointment tomorrow. It it probably still possible to get her there - with the help of staff from the nursing home - but I'm just not sure if it is worth the upheaval for her.

She has never worn the hearing aid and her hearing doesn't seem to bad to me. Plus I've read that changes in location can worsen confusion. With transport to and fro, it'll be many hours away from the home and at the moment she sleeps a lot of the time.

However, I've also read that hearing loss is a big contributor to deterioration in cognition (though perhaps that applies more to the early stages, I'm not sure). And maybe this could be a reset and she'd start wearing the aids?

WWYD? Thanks for your thoughts

What's the aim of the appointment?

Has there been any concerted effort by the home to promote wearing the current aids?

I'd be inclined to cancel I have to say.

Definitely keep it .... or organise for them to come to her. Not being able to hear can be a big factor in confusion and paranoia
Even if it helps a tiny bit it might relieve some of her distress, even if it is not obvious to those around her.

She has never worn the hearing aid and her hearing doesn't seem to bad to me

If she never wears the existing hearing aid then is it likely she will in future?

Why does she even have a hearing aid if you don't think her hearing is bad?

If she does have hearing loss that is impacting her, can you ask the care home for advice, eg what do they do for other residents with hearing loss; can they suggest a local company, particularly with experience of dealing with people with dementia?

I think I'd also cancel.

It would be disorientating for her to go, then to have people fiddle about with her ears, ask her questions she may or may not understand. Then she might not wear the hearing aids anyway.

If she was using the ones she had I'd be more inclined to take her.

Thanks, all - she had the hearing aids before she went into the home and rejected them / never got into the routine of wearing them and I was juggling so much trying to manage keeping her at home that I didn't push it. I haven't really worked with the care home to try and get her to wear them more so perhaps it is worth one proper go at it.

The aids came about because they did a hearing test as part of a general review and it showed some hearing loss but actually she hasn't seemed to have too much trouble with hearing generally. The confusion was a much bigger issue.

But have also taken on board what @Mischance has said. Will have a chat to the care home and see what they think about the balance of possible benefit vs increased confusion from the upheaval.

Really appreciate all your input..

She's also doubly incontinent so am a bit concerned about how the carer will manage that away from the care home setting.

If you ask them, would staff help ensure that she does wear it? Have they tried already? In which case I would keep the appointment. Having recently lost hearing in one ear I’ve been surprised by how disconcerting it is. It really has been quite discomforting.
If she can be encouraged to wear one it may ease some of her symptoms.

edited to add - sorry, posted at the same time you updated. Talking to the home is a good idea though.

With more time could you arrange for a visit at home? Is that a thing in your area? My grandma had both eye tests and hearing tests at home.

Then maybe you could work on her wearing them?

Getting to an appointment tomorrow with last minute planning seems to be a bit of a rush. So it will be more unsettling.

My MIL has recently moved to a nursing home - now bedbound with with vascular dementia.

The home itself has many contacts with hearing/eye/foot/hair "at home" people and will arrange MIL visits to her bed. Her hearing aids were recently replaced and all fitted in the comfort of her nursing home bed.

Maybe see what services she has available there.

Thanks, all - you've been really helpful