Have you heard? New program in Ottawa offers gently used hearing aids for seniors who struggle with the cost

A clinic in Ottawa set to launch eastern Ontario’s first hearing aid refurbishment program, allowing more seniors to access hearing aids who otherwise would not be able to afford them.Perley Health is a clinic that offers a variety of health services for seniors and veterans including long-term care, audiology and speech therapy. It launched its hearing aid refurbishment program for its clients in May, allowing them to borrow gently used hearing devices on a permanent loan basis.“The audiologists were seeing clients who had an evident need for hearing aids, but couldn't afford them, because hearing aids can amount to thousands of dollars. And knowing how important hearing is to quality of life, they saw a potential solution to help these older adults,” Andrea Liu, clinic manager at Perley Health told the Medical Post.In order to be eligible for the program, applicants must have at least a moderate degree of hearing loss in both ears with a hearing assessment completed within the last six months, and they must be a hearing aid candidate as determined by an audiologist. The hearing aids are loaned out for free—clients only need to cover the cost of a hearing assessment if they haven’t had one yet.Although the Ontario government offers up to $500 in funding per hearing aid through the Assistive Devices Program, many seniors still struggle to afford these devices, and some, such as those who have lost their hearing aids and need a replacement, aren’t eligible for funding.“We felt that it is really important for older adults to be able to hear their loved ones, to hear to help professionals, and to have that quality of life that comes from being able to have an improved level of hearing,” said Liu.The clinic relies on a supply of donated hearing devices that are less than five years old through its long-term care residents. Some of the donations are residents who have upgraded their hearing aids to a newer technology and no longer need their old device, while others are from those who reach the end of their life. Staff at the clinic make sure the devices are reconditioned and tested before they are loaned out. Currently, the program is only available for Perley Health clients, but the clinic plans to launch it for the broader community at the beginning of October, coinciding with Audiology Awareness Month. “Hearing loss is the number one modifiable risk factor with regards to dementia and cognitive decline. Everyone deserves a chance to hear their loved ones and health professionals,” said Liu.

Have you heard? New program in Ottawa offers gently used hearing aids for seniors who struggle with the cost

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