Today’s guest on the “Beyond Driving with Dignity” podcast is Mrs. Jennifer Dahmer, Hearing Instrument Specialist with Healthy Hearing.
Jennifer also serves as a Customer Support Specialist for Healthy Hearing. As a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist, Jennifer knows the impact of helping the hearing impaired. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and has spent her career in healthcare.
At Healthy Hearing, Jennifer prides herself on delivering excellent support to providers and patients alike, diligently working to connect people with hearing loss to the appropriate professionals; professionals who are dedicated to improving customers’ lives through hearing healthcare.
Jennifer lives with her husband and three children outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and enjoys homesteading hobbies including raising goats, chickens, ducks and dogs.
In today’s show, Jennifer offers tips and suggestions for older drivers who have a hearing impairment.
WOW…I didn’t know that: While an estimated 43% of adults over the age of 65 have hearing loss, roughly only 25% wear hearing aids!
Show notes for “Tips for Older Drivers With Diminished Hearing”
00:00 Welcome to the “Beyond Driving with Dignity” podcast show!
00:54 Introducing today’s guest; Jennifer Dahmer, Hearing Instrument Specialist with Healthy Hearing
02:14 Today’s topic: Is it safe to drive with hearing loss?
02:44 Why do some older drivers not like to wear their hearing aids?
03:39 Can I still drive (safely) if I have hearing loss?
05:29 Tips to help recognize the onset of hearing loss
06:48 Can hearing loss serve as a drag on cognitive functions?
07:33 Hearing aids help our brains stay healthy
09:07 Can vehicle adaptations help compensate for hearing loss?
Remove featured image09:38 As an older driver with hearing loss, how can I stay safe behind the wheel?
10:35 The importance of staying focused and eliminating distractions
10:38 What about the driver that doesn’t like to wear their hearing aids?
13:38 Tips for drivers that do wear their hearing aids
15:17 What does a hearing aid actually do?
16:44 How to contact Jennifer and Healthy Hearing
18:22 Thank you to Jennifer Dahmer and everyone at Healthy Hearing
39:41 Thank you to Chris MacLellan and everyone at The Whole Care Network
The “Beyond Driving with Dignity” podcast show is a service of Keeping Us Safe, LLC, a national organization that provides practical, real-life solutions to older drivers and their families. Please visit their website at https://www.keepingussafe.org// or call them toll-free at 877-907-8841
for additional information on their programming.
Matt Gurwell is the developer of the nationally-recognized “Beyond Driving with Dignity” program. He currently lectures throughout the United States on topics related to the aging process and its adverse affects on driving skills. As developer of this life-saving program, Matt’s mission is to provide strategies and guidance to seniors that will help them to continue driving safely until the decision is made to retire from their driving career. The “Beyond Driving with Dignity” program also provides an excellent array of services and resources for both families and professionals as they deal with this very sensitive issue. Matt retired from a very distinguished and successful 24-year career as an Assistant District Commander with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. After leaving the Patrol, Matt has participated in a tremendous amount of work in the area of older driver research, best practices, current vehicle safety technologies, and adaptive equipment. Matt's creative, innovative and common sense approach, combined with his uncanny ability to bring calm and resolve to stressful situations without ever jeopardizing the dignity of others, has contributed greatly to the success of the “Beyond Driving with Dignity” program. When asked what the ultimate motivation was for starting the program, Matt explains: "There was never one particular event. It was the result of 20-plus years of holding dying people in my arms at terrible car accidents, and delivering dozens and dozens of death notifications to families. I would much rather work with families to bring a peaceful resolve to this sensitive and uncomfortable issue now, rather than have them deal with it when a State Trooper is knocking on their front door". Matt serves as Senior Care Authority’s Program Director for the “Beyond Driving with Dignity” program. Senior Care Authority (https://www.seniorcareauthority.com) is now the nation’s exclusive provider of the “Beyond Driving with Dignity” program.
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