Hearing aids for nursing home residents: current policy and future needs.
Hearing aids are crucial for people with hearing loss, especially dementia patients in nursing homes. However, the actual use of hearing aids in this population is very low. A major barrier to use is the cost. This paper examines the issue in terms of current financial coverage available through federal and state systems as well as private insurance. We discuss the applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal laws to this problem. There is a need for future policy development to improve both the quality of hearing aids and the financial mechanisms that will allow nursing home residents to use them. Plans to move the policy agenda forward are suggested.
Cohen-Mansfield
Jiska
J
Research Institute on Aging, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852, United States. cohen-mansfield@hebrew-home.org
Infeld
Donna Lind
DL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications; D005544:Forecasting; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000458:organization & administration; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008484:Medicaid / Q000458:organization & administration; D009735:Nursing Homes; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States