Elder Care,

[hensleyll]

Whats the best way to communicate with someone 97,hard of hearing and half blind?

[crazyzoo]

with my grandma who was 98 and hard of hearing (sight was fine) I learned that talking clear and  a certain tone hepled a lot its not just talking louder but certain tones and pitches that helped Good luck I know it can be very frustrating

[oldbuddy]

A hug usually works. 

[hensleyll]

Yes We Have Became Very Close

[patycake56]

patience and love

[vickysue]

It is hard, especially when they won't wear their hearing aids. Auntie was almost 99 when she passed. Sometimes i wonder if it was because she was so busy talking that she couldn't hear. Poor old thing . She was was in so much pain, it was a blessing for her. All i can say is just keep doing for them as long as you can. The good lord will take care of the rest.

[pstovall]

Even if sight and hearing has faded, they can still feel your touch and your presence.  I'm sure having you near and knowing that you care means everything to someone in that position.  Just keep trying to communicate as best you can and think how YOU would feel and what YOU would want if the positions were reversed.  My mom will be 102 in 6 weeks and just getting attention from someone means the world to her. 

[hensleyll]

Thats what i hoped sometimes i just hold her hand

[maxinmotion]

I saw a story on 20/20 where a senior responded to music, when all the time they thought
that person could not hear. Try giving them a personal cd player and play some of their
favorite music and see what happens. Make sure it is a person player with those over the
ear head-phones so that any outside noise will not interfear.

Start with the volumn down low and watch for facial expressions as you turn up the volumn.
Be blessed and be patient

[hensleyll]

Thats What We Did At The Nursing Center I Worked At Briefly,I Had Forgotten About That Thank You

[pkoon40]

I have a grandmother who is 85, almost deaf and almost blind. I purchased a personal sound amplifier for her, and it worked great. Now she tells people not to yell  
If you do buy one of these, don't buy the cheap ones, because they have static and don't last. As far as her being almost blind, NPR sometimes has newspapers read daily. Check your local listings. My grandmother enjoys this a lot. Also, you can check out books on CD at the library as well as contacting your local Lion's Club for other assistance. GOOD LUCK and keep your chin up.
-Patty K

[plennis]

Lots of good advice.  Just being there with her means a lot.  So often when people are older, they have lost a lot of friends and relatives.  So make sure you visit her often, hug her, hold her hand.  We use to give my Mother-In-law manicures and pedicures, or sometimes just rub lotion on her arms and legs.  Touch seems to make a really big difference.  We alternate her photo albums, and I have also put up pictures of her young, so that the staff at the nursing home knows she was not always this way.  I feel like the staff sometimes is just doing there job and forgets that these are real people, just like them.  They will be here one day too.

[inkfection]

As a hospital employee we used giant boards with pictures of things ppl generally would want like food, drink, pain medicine, etc. for ppl on ventilators. I always thought that it would be helpful for older ppl too who have a hard time communicating their desires. While it's not a foolproof method, it's better than nothing when trying to understand their wants and needs. Good luck if you try this method and let me know if it works for you. 

[momoney555]

I bet she would respond well to pictures, music from the past if she can see and hear well enough.  Memories are a very important part of the lives of the elderly.

[tzs]

Find something that stimulates his interest, and do it together.