In an effort to help law enforcement and emergency personnel more successfully help individuals with a hearing impairment, the Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance will be distributing personal amplification devices for Make A Difference Day, The Republican Herald reports.
SEAPA member Carolyn Tenaglia told the Herald that the alliance is purchasing about 200 SuperEar 4000 amplification devices thanks to an anonymous donation. SEAPA was originally going to raise the money until the donation surfaced.
The devices cost about $40 each.
The portable battery-operated devices, manufactured by Sonic Technologies, will be distributed free to all county police departments, state police barracks, hospital emergency rooms, Advanced Life Support services, the Schuylkill County [Pa.] Office of Senior Services Protective Services Unit, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, district attorney's office, victim advocate and victim witness coordinator.
"We saw these because they're used in nursing homes by staff to conduct assessments," Tenaglia told the Herald. "These came up as a way to help communication with their residents."
The SuperEar 4000 consists of a headset, which the elderly person wears, and a small handheld microphone. While the device can be used by anyone who is hearing impaired, SEAPA distributed them mainly because responders often encounter elders who may have been victimized or traumatized.
