← Return to Dementia and hearing aids
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Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Jul 27 2:44pm | Replies (18)
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Replies to "After years of joking that his best friend refused to use his hearing aids, guess what?..."
Looking ahead to future needs- my husband has been seen by the VA just for his hearing aids. At the last visit, his earwax needed cleaning, the audiologist said she doesn’t do that, it has to be a MD or PA, said something about having his benefit checked, got on the phone, waited, told us he was eligible to see either, had us make an appointment at check-out. During the procedure visit, I told the PA how happy I was that the clinic had wheelchairs as just recently, my husband suddenly decided to just sit down on the floor at Walmart and kind shoppers and associates rushed to help us, got a store wheelchair and helped me get him back into the car. The PA said, “With his dementia, he doesn’t sound safe anymore out with just a walker. You need a travel wheelchair so you can still take him places. I’ll put a request in for a rehab evaluation and we’ll get him one.”
That Eval was yesterday and an extra light travel w/c has been ordered that I’ll be able to lift in and out of the trunk. He’s getting Home Care PT now due to two recent falls, the PT said only to use the walker at home when he is closely supervised, his balance is off and he’s very impulsive and distractible. I bought a wheelchair for him and had an anti-rollback device put on (would never remember to put on the brakes before standing), he propels it with his feet, zipping along.
The VA PT said to bring his wheelchair in, they will enter it into the VA system and any repairs or accessories needed will be provided by the VA.
I had no idea this kind of help was a possibility. Next time you’re at the VA, no harm in asking if he’s eligible for “Durable Medical Equipment”, he may need it in the future. What a wonderful service!