FEATURE

IS IT TIME FOR A Hearing Aid?

Our senses of sound, sight, touch, smell and taste allow us to interpret and response to the stimuli around us. We rely more on sight and sound than the others. As our bodies age our sensory input receptors usually begin to show signs of diminishing ability to receive, assess and understand some stimuli as clearly as in younger days which can be frustrating, making it more difficult and less pleasant to engage with and respond to the world around us.

Did you know that more people suffer from hearing loss than people who have cancer, diabetes or vision issues? Studies have revealed that of the number of people who could benefit from using a hearing aid, only one in five people actually choose to use a hearing aid.

Hearing aids improve quality of life for most users. A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn in or behind the ear and which makes some sounds louder, yet is designed to help in both quiet and noisy environments. Hearing aids can bring more pleasure to life, and also help keep us safe from risks and threats that surface when we cannot hear well.

Hearing loss creates a general loss of situational awareness, and can lead to isolation, disconnect and even injury. Hearing loss also impacts mental health and can contribute to depression and cognitive decline

When you address your hearing health you can be more confident and relaxed about your communication abilities.

By Juliane Morris

For more information visit the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/ health/hearing-aids.

If you’re curious if hearing aids may be useful to you or someone you love, explore some of these next questions together. A few “yes” responses to some of these questions mean it is a promising idea to consider how incorporating hearing aids into your life can help you.

1. Does it seem like people are mumbling or whispering when others can hear them without trouble? 2. Do you ask people to repeat themselves so you can try to hear them again? 3. Do you find social gatherings unpleasant and isolating because you cannot understand what people are saying? 4. Are music, radio, television less enjoyable because of hearing issues? 5. Do others say the volume of a device is playing too loudly? 6. Have you missed hearing notifications like an alarm, kitchen timer, doorbell ring or traffic sounds when walking or driving? 7. Are you feeling less confident and connected with people because you cannot reliably converse with them?

AD

Winter Winter HOW TO PREPARE YOUR GARDEN FOR HOW TO PREPARE YOUR GARDEN FOR

By Alison Braidwood

When summer nights start to draw in and a promise of autumn cools the air, the master gardener’s thoughts turn to preparing the flowerbeds for winter. Meanwhile, the rest of us (who are not master gardeners) feel tired at the mere thought of winterizing our gardens, fail to formulate any sort of coherent plan, and end up doing a bit of panicky deadheading before giving up. This adds a certain frisson of danger to the first buds of spring, as you can’t really be sure what’s about to emerge from the earth. Milkweed and dandelions, anyone? But winterizing a garden doesn’t have to be painful. Just follow a few simple steps and you’ll be looking forward to your garden’s spring offerings. Really.

Divide & Conquer

The first hint of fall is a good time to divide your perennials.

They like it, and you’ll double or triple your plants without paying out any extra money.

Some gardeners cut back their perennials; others prefer to leave them. Remember that birds and other wildlife will appreciate any berries and seeds left on the plants.

Plant

Some bulbs, perennials and shrubs are ideal for planting in the fall. Make sure you plant them well before the first frost, so that they have time to establish roots. At the same time you can remove any perennial bulbs that aren’t hardy and won’t survive the winter. Dry them out and store them in a cool, dry place indoors.

Delete as Applicable

Take an hour or so to really look at your garden. If there’s anything in there you’re not fond of take this opportunity to yank it up. A bit of willful destruction will satisfy some of your more primal gardening urges, and you’ll have the virtuous feeling that you’re doing something useful. Rip out all your tired-looking annuals and vegetable plants and add them to your compost. Then turn the soil over with a rototiller or spade. Get rid of dead leaves on shrubs (but don’t prune them–that’s best left until spring). Give your garden a general weeding and get rid of dead leaves on the ground.

Don’t like the look of that sad sack plant under the tree? Yank it up and plant it somewhere else. Be decisive and ruthless with under performing vegetation.

Shrubs & Bushes

Depending on how harsh your winters are, you may want to wrap your evergreen shrubs in burlap or old blankets to protect them from wind and extreme cold. You can also wrap up containers or bring them indoors.

Add Compost & Mulch

The fall is a good time to test your soil. If it’s nutrient deficient, add manure or compost. This will give the soil a chance to regenerate before spring.

Adding mulch (leaves, bark or pine needles) to your perennial beds protects the plants’ roots from extreme temperature variance in the soil over winter. Wait until after the first frost, and then spread a layer of mulch (between 2-6 inches) around the feet of less hardy plants.

Follow these pre-winter gardening tips and you’ll have less to do in spring. Even if you have to trick yourself into doing these fall chores, the results will be worth it. Come spring, you’ll thank yourself for your winterizing endeavors.