As Canada’s population ages, hearing loss is becoming an increasingly important public health challenge, particularly in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), where 60 – 80% of residents experience hearing difficulties. Untreated hearing loss can negatively affect communication, social participation, quality of care, and overall well-being. Despite their central role in supporting residents, personal support workers and frontline care staff often receive limited training in hearing health and communication strategies. AUDVIE was developed to address this gap through an accessible, evidence-informed self-directed training program.

AUDVIE consists of video modules, a learner handbook, and hands-on practice materials covering age-related hearing loss, communication strategies, hearing aid management, and personal amplification systems. This presentation will describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of the program across six long-term care facilities in Quebec – CA. The study examined the impact of training on participants’ knowledge, practical skills, and self-efficacy related to hearing care, while also evaluating learning retention and participant satisfaction.

Results demonstrated that the program was feasible, well accepted, and compatible with workplace realities. Improvements were observed in hearing-related knowledge, practical competencies, and confidence, with benefits maintained three months after training. These findings support self-directed learning as a promising strategy for strengthening person-centred hearing care in long-term care settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the impact of age-related hearing loss in long-term care facilities and its implications for communication and quality of care.
2. Identify the main components of the AUDVIE training program, including modules on hearing loss, communication strategies, hearing aids, and personal amplification systems.
3. Discuss the outcomes of a self-directed hearing-health training program on staff knowledge, practical skills, self-efficacy, and satisfaction.
4. Recognize key factors that support successful implementation and sustainability of hearing-health training programs in long-term care environments.
5. Explain how hearing-related education can contribute to person-centred care for older adults with hearing loss.