How to tactfully suggest hearing aid for Granny (my MIL)

[zenlikecalm]

We get on well but as she has passed the 80 mark it seems she really "gets" very little of what anyone says. We only spend Xmas/Easter/a week in summer now the dds are in school. She has a loving dh, competent live-in daughter and 2 other sons living nearby. I do wonder if they have dared bring it up, they are all a bit scared of upsetting her.

The background is that she has never worn her glasses either, and won't allow herself to be photographed. She basically pretends she knows what you just said, but clearly didn't hear from what she says in reply. So very self conscious I guess.

In fact I have not even dared bring it up myself with SIL as SHE has become very protective lately.

Should I butt out? It's her life, but what a shame to spend your remianing days unable to communicate with the family. Mind you maybe she doesn't care what they say! Any advice? Are hearing aids worse than not hearing?

might be complicated - hearing aids dont make you hear - just amplify the noise and you have to tune them in and stuff - its all a bit complicated for an 80 yr old i think

shame about the glasses though - my nan loved reading books and the paper

i'm imagining she knows she hasn't heard so if you think about it, she doesn't need telling.

Yes she must know she can't hear like she used to, it's more a problem of suggesting (from a position of not really knowing) what to do.

but aren't there hearing aids for non-technical people? I don't know the technology. They have plenty of dosh.

and the tactfulness problem, I used to approach via SIL but she has got very short with me lately.

so is it better to leave her in her quiet world then? She is very able for her age and seems about 10 years younger.

nobody have any experience of this, then??

sigh

of course elderly people can have hearing aids - you don;t have to tune digital hearing aids these days, the technology is amazing.

I would suggest you get her hearing tested by a hearing aid professional who can then recommend a range of hearing aids suited to the type of hearing loss she is experiencing. My parents use Hidden Hearing.

Thanks Conniedescending, that is useful. They are in Dublin, maybe I should google hearing aid professionals over there.

I was a bit surprised at the idea that hearing aids are too complex for old people to use!!! Does that mean they are only for the young and trendy? Maybe I'd better get mine fitted now while I can still hear, so I'm not too decrepit to figure it out when my hearing does go.

The problem is that she is very prickly and stubborn, I can't do much more than suggest things via my sister-in-law, who is also getting a bit P and S too (she's 40 but seems about 65!). SIL has told me that her mum for example won't use a mobile, doesn't know which button to press (and I suspect can't see buttons or find glasses in time if the thing rings!)