18 minute read
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health,Wellness&FitnessGuide THE SAVVY SENIOR:
How to Buy Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
Dear Savvy Senior, Iʼm interested in getting some of the over-the-counter hearing aids that just became availBY JIMMILLER able a few month ago. Can you offer any tips to help me with this? — Straining to Hear
Dear Straining,
The new FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids that started rolling out this fall are a real game changer for the roughly 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Adults with impaired hearing can now walk in and buy hearing aids at a pharmacy, big box chain, consumer electronics store or online, without a prescription and without consulting an audiologist.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this new class of hearing aids to lower prices and improve their availability.
About a third of people ages 65 to 74 and half of those over 75 have hearing loss severe enough to affect their daily life. Yet about 80% of people who would benefit from hearing aids donʼt wear them, according to the National Institutes of Health, primarily because of the hefty price tag.
Traditional hearing aids ordered through an audiologist cost $1,000 to $7,000 a pair and are not covered by most private insurers and traditional Medicare. The new OTC hearing aids range $200 to $3,000.
Who Should Get Them?
OTC hearing aids are specifically designed for adults (18 and older) who have mild to moderate hearing loss. You donʼt need a hearing exam or prescription to buy them, and they are designed so you can fit and tune them yourself.
Do you have mild to moderate hearing loss? The specific signs are having trouble hearing or understanding conversations, especially in noisier environments, over the phone, or if you canʼt see whoʼs talking. Or, if you need a higher volume of television, radio or music than other people, or have to ask others to speak more slowly, louder or repeat what they said.
If, however, your hearing problem is more severe than that, for example, if you also have trouble hearing loud sounds such as power tools or motor vehicles, or if you struggle to hear conversations in quiet settings, then your hearing loss is considered more significant than over-thecounter aids are intended to address.
To help you get a basic sense of your hearing problem, you can take an app-based test like Mimi (mimi.health) or SonicCloud (soniccloud.com).
If you find that your hearing loss is significant, youʼll need to work with an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist to find a hearing aid that works for you.
What to Look For
To help you choose a good OTC hearing aid that meets your needs and preferences, here are some important points to keep in mind. • Return policy: It can take weeks for your brain to adjust to hearing louder sounds through a hearing aid, so be sure to choose a brand that offers at least a 30day free trial period, or money back return policy. The FDA requires manufactures to print their return policy on the package.
• Set up: Many OTC hearing aids require a smartphone or computer to adjust and operate the devices to your specific needs, while others have the controls on the device. This will also be labeled on the box. Choose one that fits your preference and comfort level. • Battery: The package also should tell you what kind of battery the device uses. Some of the older versions of hearing aids have replaceable batteries, but many of the newer ones have rechargeable batteries that come in a charging case, where you charge them up every night. • Customer support: Some companies offer unlimited customer support to help you adjust or fine-tune your hearing aids, while others might limit support or charge extra. Be sure you check.
For more information, including product reviews, see the National Council on Agingʼs OTC hearing aids buyerʼs guide at NCOA.org/adviser/hearingaids/over-the-counter-hearingaids. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
Health,Wellness&FitnessGuideADVERTISERCONTENT DR. KAPLAN: Try Dr. Kaplan’s 7-day brain power challenge
This week, Kaplan Brain & Body is running the 7 Day Boost Your Brain Power Challenge to improve memory, focus, energy, motivation, sleep, digestion, mood, as well as decrease distractions, brain fog, fatigue, pain, and obesity.
Start this on Monday and continue for the rest of the week to stay healthy between Thanksgiving and Christmas and end the year on a good note.
The first challenge is to drink water that equals half your body weight in ounces every day. For example, if you weigh 100 pounds, drink 50 ounces of water each day. The best time to drink water is on an empty stomach so consume two glasses in the morning when you wake, one glass 30 minutes before each meal and one glass at night before bed. You may alkalize your water by adding pink Himalayan salt with lemon, lime, cucumbers or mint leaves. Distilled water is acidic and has no minerals so you can add 6 mg of pink himalayan salt per 10 ounces of distilled water.
The second dayʼs challenge is to eat each color of the rainbow. On day 2, drink water that equals half your body weight in ounces and add eating each color of the rainbow to your brain boosting habits.
Here is a list of healthy foods for each color of the rainbow. Red: raspberries, pomegranates, strawberries, apples, red bell pepper, cherries, tomatoes, and watermelon. Orange: sweet potato, apricots, carrots, oranges, papaya, pumpkin, peaches. Yellow: lemons, yellow onions, garlic, pineapples, pears, squash, mango, bananas, ginger, yellow bell peppers. Green: avocado, asparagus, kale, broccoli, cucumber, kiwi, lime, zucchini, spinach, green grapes, green apples. Blue: blackberries, blueberries, elderberries, huckleberry, acai, mangosteen. Purple: eggplant, purple cabbage, grapes, purple onions, beets, raisins, plums, figs, radicchio.
The third challenge is to perform breathing exercises three times a day. The assignment is to inhale deeply for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.
Keep your chin up and breathe from your diaphragm when you inhale. Push your belly down and out (make your belly look like a pregnant woman) as you inhale, hold it for seven seconds, and then blow all the air out really forcefully with an intense exhale. You do not want any leftover carbon dioxide staying in your lungs so really focus on getting out every last breath out of the lungs.
Complete these exercises for three repetitions and then repeat them three times a day. Breathing from your diaphragm will maximize oxygen levels and get rid of the carbon dioxide which may decrease your chances of creating a harmful acidic environment.
The fourth challenge is to challenge your brain in a new way with something you have never done before. Learn a new dance move, learn how to say a word in a different language, how to garden, how to cook a new meal, how to play a new sport, how to build something, how to make art, how to make a fire, how to filter water, how to change a tire, etcetera.
The fifth challenge is called intermittent fasting. This is when you only eat from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The purpose of eating is to produce energy, so it makes sense to only eat during the day when you are most active and need lots of energy.
It also makes sense to not eat at night when our bodies should be relaxing and getting ready to rest for the night.
The sixth challenge is to exercise for 20 minutes a day. At this point, you should be drinking the proper amount of water, eating each color of the rainbow, performing your breathing exercises, doing something new every day, only eating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and now we are adding exercising every day for 20 minutes.
The seventh challenge is if you are sitting, get up every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds to move your body. Think sit-ups, jumping jacks, squats, lunges, pulls up, push ups, crunches, backward shoulder rolls, sitting to standing exercises, or simply walking around your desk or couch for 20 seconds. DR. ERIC KAPLAN, KAPLAN BRAIN & BODY People who perform this challenge should see an improvement in their memory, focus, energy, motivation, and mood within one week! Email info@kaplanbrainandbody.com or call/text (646) 221-6738.
Special offer and a message on motivation from Dr. Kaplanʼs office
If you are interested in seeing Dr. Kaplan as a functional neurology patient, he is offering a $21 neurological exam (normally $400) for the month of December but only for the first seven people that contact us! Only contact us if you are willing to put in the work. Dr. Kaplan is not the doctor that prescribes medicine to cover up symptoms, but teaches his patients how to get to the root cause of their health issues and help them with holistic and integrative techniques that have no risks or side effects. Letʼs get healthy together!
WESTWOOD
Get fit, relieve stress, with ForeverYoung
Are you a senior looking to get fit and relieve stress as the holidays approach? Look no further than Westwood Recreationʼs ForeverYoung programʼs yoga, chair yoga and tai-chi classes for resident and non-resident adults, age 55 and up.
Certified yoga instructor Tori Karach leads ForeverYoung participants, beginners to advanced, in a 60-minute class designed to increase overall flexibility, assist in improving balance and posture, boost mood, increase muscle tone and ease aches and pains.
Yoga is held in the Westwood Community Center on Thursdays from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Chair Yoga with Tori is also held in the Westwood Community Center on Thursdays from noon to 12:40 p.m. The ForeverYoung yoga classes are free to Westwood residents 55 and up; $20 per month non-residents.
Local residents 55 and up who are looking for a new challenge are also encouraged to try Tai-Chi with instructor Hasmig Mekjian. Tai-chi is a Chinese martial art that incorporates slow continuous movement from one pose to the next. It is widely hailed as a beneficial way to reduce stress and anxiety and regular practice promotes better sleep and weight loss. Tai-Chi might also improve cognition and balance and relieve symptoms of arthritis.
ForeverYoung Tai-Chi classes take place on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. and Thursdays at 1 p.m. The program is free for Westwood residents; the non-resident fee is $30 per month and includes entrance to both classes.
To register for these classes, adults 55 and up should go to the Westwood Community Center office at 55 Jefferson Ave. any day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information call (201) 664-7882.
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CONSIDER THESE THREE SUGGESTIONS IF YOU INHERIT A TRUST
David “Chico” Esparza, Senior Fiduciary Advisory Specialist with Wells Fargo Private Bank, remembers meeting two clients, a ERIC KOHLMEIER brother and sister whose parents had passed away. “Unfortunately, their parents had not discussed their estate plans with the adult children. When the siblings learned they were the beneficiaries of a sizable trust,” Esparza recalls, “they had no idea what to do next.”
The brother and sister had many questions. Who handles the estate? What are the terms of the trust? And what should their next steps be? “Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., was the trustee, so we explained the timeline and process for settling the trust estate,” Esparza says. “It helped to ease their minds to know that professionals would be handling everything.”
As Esparzaʼs clients found, stepping into the role of beneficiary can feel a bit like stepping into the unknown. Here, Esparza offers three suggestions to ease the process.
Build an advisory team
A good first step for the beneficiary is to meet with the trustee who is tasked with executing the terms of the trust. It may be an individual, such as a CPA or lawyer, family member, or a corporate trustee.
“There will be a lot of questions, so itʼs important to establish a communication plan and a general timeframe for how long it will take to settle the estate,” Esparza says.
In some instances, once the estate is settled, a new trust is funded with the beneficiaryʼs share of the estate; in other cases, assets will be distributed outright to the beneficiary. If the assets will be retained in trust, the trustee typically collaborates with aninvestment advisor to help manage the assets according to the terms of the trust.
“The trustee and investment advisor will create a plan that is based on the terms of the trust and considers the needs of the beneficiary,” Esparza says. “Beneficiaries also should consider seeking the guidance of a tax consultant regarding tax implications related to trust distribution.”
Understand the terms of the trust
One of the first questions a beneficiary might have for the advisory team is, “What does the trust mean for me?”
Esparza explains that a trust is a useful tool for holding, managing, and distributing property as outlined by the trustor(s) - the creator(s) of the trust - in the trust agreement, but each trust is unique in how assets can be distributed to beneficiaries. It is important to understand the terms of the trust. Some key trust aspects to discuss include:
• Beneficiary or beneficiaries:
Is there a sole or several beneficiaries of the trust? How do the terms address the rights different beneficiaries have to distributions from the trust? • Age restrictions: Does the beneficiary have to reach a certain age before accessing some or all of the trust? •Distribution restrictions:Can beneficiaries access the principal or just the income from the trust? Does the beneficiary need to provide the trustee with proof of the beneficiaryʼs own income and expenses to receive distributions? What categories of expenses can the trust cover for the beneficiary? For what reasons may distributions be adjusted? • Lifetime of the trust: Does the trust terminate once the beneficiary reaches a certain age, or is it meant to last the beneficiaryʼs lifetime? Is any portion of the trust designated for future generations?
“Trusts are an opportunity to build generational wealth, not only for the trustor but also for the beneficiary, ”Esparza says. “For that reason, the trustee should be thoughtful in administrating the trust to help the funds last not only through beneficiaryʼs lifetime but also potentially for future generations.”
Ask questions before taking distributions
“Before taking a trust distribution, some beneficiaries find it useful to inquire about the potential tax consequences.
Thatʼs where a tax advisor should provide guidance,” Esparza says. “Beneficiaries also may consider consulting with the trustee and investment advisor about additional considerations or impacts a trust distribution may have.” In addition, beneficiaries should consult with their own legal counsel if they have specific questions regarding their rights with respect to a trust or the possible impact of a trust distribution.
Esparza shares the story of a young beneficiary who wanted to use her trust fund to purchase a luxury car when she turned 16. “As trustee, I posed this question: ʻWould a less-expensive car meet your transportation goals and preserve trust assets for the long term?ʼ” he says. “It is important for beneficiaries to stay connected with the trustee and to ask clarifying questions so they understand the impact certain distributions may have to the trust. As a fiduciary, a trustee is there to educate and can help the trust sustain longer term financial well-being for the beneficiary.”
Wells Fargo Private Bank offers products and services through Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, and its various affiliates and subsidiaries. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. offers various advisory and fiduciary products and services including discretionary portfolio management. Wells Fargo affiliates, including financial advisors of Wells Fargo Advisors, a separate non-bank affiliate, may be paid an ongoing or onetime referral fee in relation to clients referred to the bank. The bank is responsible for the day-to-day management of the account and for providing investment advice, investment management services, and wealth management services to clients. The role of the financial advisor with respect to the Bank products and services is limited to referral and relationship management services. Some of The Private Bank experiences may be available to clients of Wells Fargo Advisors without a relationship with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Wells Fargo & Company and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advice. Wells Fargo Advisors is not a legal or tax advisor. Please consult your legal advisors to determine how this information may apply to your own situation. Whether any planned tax result is realized by you depends on the specific facts of your own situation at the time your taxes are prepared.
Trust services available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to non-affiliated companies of Wells Fargo Advisors. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state.
This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Eric Kohlmeier, Senior Financial Advisor, Managing Director - Investments in Park Ridge at 201-505-0472.
Let There Be Peace is presented on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 131 Pascack Road in Park Ridge. Courtesy photo
It was on Dec. 9, 1972 that a choir called The Lakeside Choraliers presented its first concert to an appreciative audience. The group has thrived over the years, and on Dec. 4 will present its 50th winter concert. (One was “lost” due to the COVID shutdown).
Weʼre told, “Many former members will be joining us in celebrating 50 years with The Lakeside Choraliers, either in the audience or singing with the group. Accompanying the choir will be a string quintet. A reception at the church will follow the concert.”
The Lakeside Choraliers is a nonsectarian mixed community choir for singing enthusiasts of all ages and is based in Montvale. The group is under the artistic direction of George W. Swope and is accompanied by Fiona Smith Sunderland.
The choir tells Pascack Press, “Being a community group, we have entertained audiences at nursing homes, senior residences, and veteransʼhomes in past years. Recently, we have partnered with Meals on Wheels North Jersey whereby a portion of our ticket sales is donated to that organization.”
Tickets are $20 ($10 for children under 18) and can be purchased at the door, or in advance by calling Dorothy Waldt at (201) 820-5923.
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FROM PAGE 2
school guidance offices in the spring or by emailing westwoodwomansclub@gmail.com for an electronic copy.
Special thanks to The Fresh Grocer in Washington Township for letting us set up inside the store.
The Womanʼs Club of Westwood is a non-profit volunteer organization. If any woman would like more information about the club please call (201) 916-1580.
Madeleine Ciocco Womanʼs Club of Westwood
CONTINUED ON PAGE 38
G Ge et t t th he e R Re es su ul lt ts s
Get the results you’re looking for in the Service Directory in Pascack Valley Press.
To place your service ad, please call 201.664.2105
Mayor John Ruocco and his wife, Angela.
L.SCOTTBERKOBEN, P.A.
AProfessional Corporation Attorneys at Law
The Baxter Quartet plays as bidders browse.
THE HILLSDALE PUBLIC
Library Foundation, with assistance from the Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Hillsdale Free Public Library, hosted a Fall ʻFunʼRaiser on Thursday, Nov. 17 in support of the mission of the library.
Tickets to the event sold out. Attendees were treated to a wine tasting by Garyʼs Wines and Marketplace of Closter, chocolates and caramels provided by Conradʼs of Westwood, and chocolate-covered strawberries from Edible Arrangements of Westwood.
The Baxter Quartet kept the crowd entertained with jazz interpretations of favorite pop songs while bidders considered 135 lots offered in the silent auction.
Library director Dave Franz told Pascack Press on Nov. 22 that the more than $13,000 raised will be applied toward the purchase of new furniture and equipment at the library.
“It was wonderful to see so many people gathered at the library enjoying the company of their friends and neighbors. There wasnʼt a quiet corner in the library to be found,” Franz said.
Council President Janetta Trochimiuk at check-out with her auction wins.
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