The Effects and Costs of a Hearing Screening and Rehabilitation Program in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in the Netherlands1

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Linssen ◽  
M. A. Joore ◽  
E. J. J. M. Theunissen ◽  
L. J. C. Anteunis
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Homes For The Elderly

Purpose This study describes the effects and costs of hearing screening and rehabilitation in residential care homes for the elderly. It was hypothesized that offering an in-house hearing screening and rehabilitation program would be an effective strategy to increase hearing aid ownership among the residents. Method All 705 residents of 8 residential care homes in the Netherlands were invited to participate in a hearing screening (pure-tone audiometry) and rehabilitation (hearing aids) program. Resident participation was analyzed, and the costs were calculated. Results A total of 243 residents (34%) participated in the screening, 222 (91%) of whom had hearing loss. Ninety-one (41%) of the screening participants with hearing loss started rehabilitation, which was successful for 50 (55%) of them. Hearing aid ownership among the residents with hearing loss increased from 28% at the start of the program to 33% at the end. The costs were €1,896 (US $2,480) per successfully rehabilitated resident. Hearing aid trials and hearing aids together accounted for 83% of the total costs. Conclusion The effectiveness of the program was limited, as hearing aid ownership increased only slightly. Cost reduction measures should focus on decreasing the number of unsuccessful hearing aid trials.

Use of Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices in an Older Australian Population

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 642-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hartley ◽  
Elena Rochtchina ◽  
Philip Newall ◽  
Maryanne Golding ◽  
Paul Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Older People ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Australian Population ◽  
Factors Associated

Background: Hearing loss is a common sensory impairment experienced by older persons. Evidence shows that the use of hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices (ALDs) can benefit those with a hearing loss but that historically the uptake and use of these technologies has remained relatively low compared with the number of people who report a hearing loss. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, usage, and factors associated with the use of hearing aids and ALDs in an older representative Australian population. Research Design: A population-based survey. Study Sample: A total of 2956 persons out of 3914 eligible people between the ages of 49 and 99 yr (mean age 67.4 yr), living in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, completed a hearing study conducted from 1997 to 2003. Data Collection and Analysis: Hearing levels were assessed using pure tone audiometry, and subjects were administered a comprehensive hearing survey by audiologists, which included questions about hearing aid and ALD usage. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with hearing aid and ALD usage. Results: Of the surveyed population, 33% had a hearing loss as measured in the better ear. 4.4% had used an ALD in the past 12 mo, and 11% owned a hearing aid. Of current hearing aid owners, 24% never used their aids. ALD and hearing aid usage were found to be associated with increasing age, hearing loss, and self-perceived hearing disability. Conclusions: These results indicate that hearing aid ownership and ALD usage remains low in the older population. Given the significant proportion of older people who self-report and have a measured hearing loss, it is possible that more could be helped through the increased use of hearing aid and/or ALD technology. Greater efforts are needed to promote the benefits of these technologies and to support their use among older people with hearing loss.

A System for accelerated provision of hearing aids to residents of homes for the elderly

1989 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 485-488
Author(s):  
J. J. Hart ◽  
M. G. Jones ◽  
D. Robertshaw ◽  
L. M. Flood
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Acceptance Rate ◽  
Residential Homes ◽  
Homes For The Elderly ◽  
Health Districts

AbstractA study was undertaken to detect undiagnosed deafness in elderly people, living in Part III Residential Homes in North Tees, South Tees and Hartlepool Health Districts, to provide hearing aids and to estimate the subsequent success in rehabilitation. The residents were referred by the senior staff in the homes and assessed by a doctor and audiology technician in a domiciliary setting. Those found to have a significant hearing impairment were prescribed hearing aids without formal pure tone audiometry. A pilot study compared the method of hearing evaluation employed with such conventional testing.Six months after fitting, the degree of compliance with aiding was assessed. The results show a significant level of undiagnosed deafness in the community and, with this method of provision, an acceptance rate of 41.2 per cent of those recommended for aiding at six months which is higher than suggested by previous similar studies of this population.

scholarly journals Role of Hand Hygiene Ambassador and Implementation of Directly Observed Hand Hygiene Among Residents in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly in Hong Kong

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent C. C. Cheng ◽  
Hong Chen ◽  
Shuk-Ching Wong ◽  
Jonathan H. K. Chen ◽  
Wing-Chun Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Environmental Contamination ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Acinetobacter Species ◽  
Homes For The Elderly ◽  
Communal Areas

OBJECTIVEMultidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are increasingly reported in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs). We assessed whether implementation of directly observed hand hygiene (DOHH) by hand hygiene ambassadors can reduce environmental contamination with MDROs.METHODSFrom July to August 2017, a cluster-randomized controlled study was conducted at 10 RCHEs (5 intervention versus 5 nonintervention controls), where DOHH was performed at two-hourly intervals during daytime, before meals and medication rounds by a one trained nurse in each intervention RCHE. Environmental contamination by MRDOs, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter species (CRA), and extended-spectrum β-lactamse (ESBL)–producing Enterobacteriaceae, was evaluated using specimens collected from communal areas at baseline, then twice weekly. The volume of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) consumed per resident per week was measured.RESULTSThe overall environmental contamination of communal areas was culture-positive for MRSA in 33 of 100 specimens (33%), CRA in 26 of 100 specimens (26%), and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in 3 of 100 specimens (3%) in intervention and nonintervention RCHEs at baseline. Serial monitoring of environmental specimens revealed a significant reduction in MRSA (79 of 600 [13.2%] vs 197 of 600 [32.8%]; P<.001) and CRA (56 of 600 [9.3%] vs 94 of 600 [15.7%]; P=.001) contamination in the intervention arm compared with the nonintervention arm during the study period. The volume of ABHR consumed per resident per week was 3 times higher in the intervention arm compared with the baseline (59.3±12.9 mL vs 19.7±12.6 mL; P<.001) and was significantly higher than the nonintervention arm (59.3±12.9 mL vs 23.3±17.2 mL; P=.006).CONCLUSIONSThe direct observation of hand hygiene of residents could reduce environmental contamination by MDROs in RCHEs.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:571–577

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