Unfortunately, if a tree falls in the forest thanks to an extreme weather event, and nobody nearby is able to hear it, then the possibility of an emergency still exists.
A new emergency alert system targets older adults who are hard of hearing, combining a text-based alert with bright flashing lights and louder-than-normal alarms to make sure the message is received.
The new alert tool, from phone provider ClearCaptions, is mainly meant to inform users of extreme weather events. That may be slightly more salient for older adults living independently, since many probably don’t have an external caregiver or community system to give updates. But it still is something notable for senior living providers to consider, particularly in areas such as the Southwest, which are expected to experience more extreme heat events.
In those cases, older adults and their caregivers need to know when it is important to stay inside or adjust environmental conditions. Other weather extremes also need guarding against.
In addition, many nursing homes lack adequate emergency alert systems, according to a recent audit of the industry by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
“Hard-of-hearing individuals, especially those who are seniors, have less access to something we all take for granted — the ability to receive and understand emergency alerts,” ClearCaptions CEO Robert Rae said in a statement. “We are filling a long-overdue need for people with varying degrees of hearing loss. We firmly believe this should become an industry standard.”
ClearCaptions currently serves more than 100,000 older adults who are hard of hearing, the company said.
A majority of seniors have some form of hearing impairment, and an unfortunately high number of them do not take steps to address it: Only 29% with hearing loss use hearing aids, one recent study found.
The increased availability of over-the-counter hearing aids may help close the gap, the McKnight’s Clinical Daily reported last week. Additionally, consistent hearing aid use has been shown to slow or reduce the risk of dementia.
