Aging and Disability Network Meeting Minutes 5/10/16

Aging and Disability Network Meeting Minutes for May 10^th 2016

Present: Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga), Nichole Church (Healthy Capital District), Caitlin St. George (Eddy VNA), Kym Hance (Alzheimer’s Association NENY), Ardis Armer (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Carol Reardon (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Mary Rickard (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Patrick Harrington (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Ben Nichols (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Donna Rudzinski (Shenendehowa Village).

Attendees were welcomed by Mary Rickard and introduced themselves.

**The next Aging and Disability Network Meeting will be held on June 14, 2016 at the Malta Community Center, 1 Bayberry Drive, Malta. Michelle Larkin from Rebuilding Together Saratoga and Mariann Cavanaugh from USDA will be presenting on their individual programs. Also, our July meeting will be held on July 12, 2016 at the Saratoga United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs.  Sam Goldman from Disability Rights NY will be giving an overview on the services the agency provides.

Please note: There will be no August meeting.

Today’s Topic and Presenter: Darren Barkman , MA, BC-HIS of Hearing Health USA.

Some facts:

Did you know that hearing loss has a direct effect on your overall health?

·         Those with hearing loss experience a 30-40% greater decline in thinking abilities compared to those without hearing loss.

·         Adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop problems thinking and remembering than adults with normal hearing.

·         Adults with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing. Adults with severe hearing loss are four times more likely to develop dementia.

·         People with mild hearing loss (25 decibels) are three times more likely to have a history of falling. Every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss increases the changes of falling by 1.4 times the original risk.

·         Untreated hearing loss can affect your ability to understand speech and can negatively impact your social and emotional well-being.

Services Offered:

·         Complimentary Hearing Screenings and Demonstrations

·         Routine and Diagnostic Testing

·         The latest in hearing technology

·         Programming and Adjustments

·         In-office repairs and cleaning

·         Hearing Instrument Repairs, all makes and models

·         Batteries, Accessories and Extended Warranties

·         Evaluation period for all new hearing aids

·         Referral Rewards Program

·         Most insurances accepted, 0% financing

Types of Hearing Aids available:

·         Invisible products, which rest in the second bend of the ear canal, where no one can see them.

·         Made for iPhone devices that connect with iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch.

·         RIC (Receiver in Canal) which are small and quicker to fit – good for first time wearers.

·         CIC (Completely in Canal)

·         ITE (In the ear) custom hearing aid

·         Tinnitus products

·         Hearing Amplifiers – good start for those not quite ready to wear a hearing aid.

People first going to Hearing USA will get a hearing assessment upon initial visit to determine the quality of hearing and hearing loss that has occurred.  Also, once a hearing option has been chosen, there is a counseling period afterward for several months, as they will want to evaluate whether or not your hearing has improved. Darren says that the reason so many folks afflicted with hearing loss do not use their hearing aids is often because they don’t know how to properly use them, or the aids really aren’t working well enough to improve their hearing loss, and there is simply no follow up with a hearing specialist after that initial fitting.

If you would like more information on what Hearing USA offers, please call Darren’s office at 869-1544, or email him at dbarkman@hearinghealthusa.com