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also he refuses to take showers.
Carol Bradley Bursack, Apr 5, 2010
Over the span of two decades author, columnist and speaker Carol Bradley Bursack cared for a neighbor and six elderly family members. Because of this experience, Bradley Bursack created a portable support group, the book "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories."
I'd have him checked for depression. There seems to be a lack of caring for himself here. The showering is something that can happen when other senses go, or when dementia is present. But hearing loss can cause depression. He needs to be checked by his regular doctor and maybe that doctor can great him for depression, if he feels that is the issue. Once depression is treated right (this can take some trial and error) he may be more willing to get other things done.Carol
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kel054
Give a Hug
Apr 6, 2010
I had the same issues with my Dad last year only he needed to have his eyes taken care of. I used loving expressions like: Dad, if you have a wreck, it will be your fault and we would not want that to happen. Also, you can tell him that he may miss some vital information that would help him due to his hearing loss. Sometimes older folks do get depressed when they cannot do what they did when they were younger. It hurts their pride severly and especially for men, can be depressing. He may need to be on a mild anti depressant to help with the emotions of losing one of the senses. Wearing a hearing aide to some means this is the end, I cannot do certain things anymore and it really hurts their self esteem.
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hair
I think as some people get older, they have a problem processing information and it is easier to shut the world off. I see this with my mother. At first it was a money issue, but now, it's as if she has chosen to live in a world of her own. Can his doctor speak to him about a hearing test. Sometimes our parents don't want to hear it from us and they listen to someone else who is outside the family unit. Good luck, hang in there, it's not easy!
anne123
My mother balked at having her hearing checked, and also didn't like to wear her hearing aid. Good idea to check for depression.
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LME
Apr 7, 2010
I had the same problem with my aunt. Then she broke her hip and went to a nursing home for rehab. Once she was able to go out, I made the appt with an audiologist, who sent her to an ENT specialist. It turned out she had LOTS of wax in her ears, and COTTON BALLS. Once this stuff was removed, her hearing was practically as good as mine. The ENT says she needed to have her hearing retested since the new results would not be the same. She chose not to, as her hearing is practically normal. If you don't have power of attorney over his health care, or if he is not in a nursing facility, his doctor can speak to him. The doctor's office can call the audiologist and make their own referral. Obviously, if he has wax/etc in his ears, his doctor will have already ruled this out/cleaned them out himself.
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