We are paying an extra $450 a month (enhanced care) for the aides in AL to put the hearing aids in and take them out and clean them and change the batteries. Sunday the aide said she went in in the morning and Mom was upset because the hearing aids were gone. I cannot find out from them if an aide took them out in the evening - the nurse told me they don't know! Mom has moderate dementia so she can't tell me as she has no short term memory. If I am paying them to take care of them - aren't they accountable? They were only 3 months old and it is going to cost over $1000 to replace them, even under warranty.
Mom's earlier set of hearing aids had a warranty for full replacement (which of course we had to use, and free repair which we had to use a couple times a year). The newer set had a warranty, but we had to pay $750 each for them. I can't count the number of times Mom either ruined them (not cleaning them) or lost them. They were the bane of my existence - I was always running to the audiologist. Once they reach a certain age, there is no way to get them to put them in the box, clean them, or keep track of them. I like the idea of a "tone" to locate them. That shouldn't be so hard for the hearing aid companies to incorporate.
I don't understand why insurance companies don't pay for them, but they will for glasses - or why the government "in its infinite wisdom (ha)" does not require it, but do for sex change operations and a lot of other questionable things. 40% of Americans will lose their hearing, so its not like it isn't an essential thing to have!
Wouldn't it be great if there was an operation where they could put in an implant that wouldn't require any maintenance?!
It's just occurred to me that perhaps you can add a rider to whatever rental insurance you have to specifically cover the hearing aids. I remember when computers were still novelties in homes, we added riders for our electronic equipment.
I also recall that specific collections of valuables, such as guns, can be the subject of riders as well (although guns have to be in a locked gun safe).
Its a tough situation because I don't want to make a big stink or they might say she doesn't belong there, or say they need to charge more. I am not in a position to move her again (besides it would traumatize her to do it again). I was thinking I need to meet with the exec representative and discuss how this could happen, and how it can be arranged that it won't happen again.
If you didn't, check the admission agreements; I suspect there are disclaimers of liability for lost items.