Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 26, 2022

Mountain View News Saturday, November 26, 2022 12 Mountain View News Saturday, November 26, 2022 12 
ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING 
HOME? 

There are many myths about Assisted 
Living being like Nursing Homes. This 
is not true at all. Nursing facilities are for 
those with chronic health issues who require 
care around the clock from medical 
professionals. 

In Assisted Living, one will get the support 
as needed, such as getting help with 
showering, grooming, and dressing. 
Again, these services are based on the 
seniors needs. 

There are many reasons in working with 
us. At Safe Path for Seniors, we will assess the senior and depending on their care needs and budget, make 
recommendations. For example, we may suggest that the right fit is a Board and Care Home (normally a 
6-bedroom house) as opposed to an Assisted Living Community or a Memory Support Facility. You will 
work with an experienced agent who 
knows the industry well and will give you recommendations. The good news is that there is no cost for this 
service. 


If you have any questions about placing a loved one, visit www.safepathforseniors.com or call Steve at 
626-999-6913 

HOW TO BUY OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS 

Dear Savvy Senior: I’m interested in getting some of 
the new over-the-counter hearing aids that just became 
available 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 age 75 have hearing loss severe 
enough to affect their daily life. Yet about 80 percent of people who would benefit from hearing 
aids don’t wear them, according to the National In-stitutes of Health, primarily because of the 
hefty price tag. 

Traditional hearing aids ordered through an audiologist cost anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 
a pair and are not covered by most private insurers and tradi-tional Medicare. The new OTC 
hearing aids range from $200 up 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 don’t 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 trou-ble hearing or 
understanding conversations, especially in noisier environments, over the phone, or if you can’t 
see who’s talking. Or, if you need a higher volume of TV, 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, you’ll need to work with an audi-ologist 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 prefer-ences, 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 30-day free trial period, or money 
back return policy. The FDA requires manu-factures 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 Aging’s OTC 
hearing aids buyer’s guide at NCOA.org/adviser/hearing-aids/over-the-counter-hearing-aids. 

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. 


SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS*

 Flo Mankin, Alberta Curran, Carmela Frontino, Kathy Wood, Lena Zate, 
Joe Pergola, Janice Kacer, Valerie Howard, Lois Stueck, Jean Wood, Shirley 
Yergeau, Pat Krok, Irene Nakagawa, Anna Ross, Mary Steinberg, Mary 
Bowser, Susan Clifton, Mary Higgins, Kim Buchanan, Leigh Thach and 
Sue Quinn, Jill Girod, Pat Krok, Jeanne Martin* To add your name to this 
distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 

SIERRA MADRE SENIOR CLUB Every Saturday from 11:30am-3:30 pm in the Hart 
Park House Senior Center. Join us as we celebrate birthdays, holidays and play BINGO. 
Must be 50+ to join. For more information call Mark at 626-355-3951. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park 
House The object of the game is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or 
more trains, emanating from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you 
may have. 

PAINT PALS 

Thursday, 10/13 10:30 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, water color, 
or making some other form of artistic creation please join our new program, PAINT PALS!!! 
Bring a project that you are working on to the HPH and enjoy some quality art time with other 
artists looking to paint with a new pal. 

TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB Tuesday Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 — 9:00 am 
Staff has launched a new book club series, Tea and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss 
the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS Tuesday, 10/4 and 10/18 —10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, 
embroidery, needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for you! 
Bring your current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with likeminded fiber 
friends. We meet in the Hart Park House 

CHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle 
stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing and 
held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion or the Hart Park House.. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Bring a lei, your flower 
skirt or just your desire to dance! Hula in the Park is back and waiting for you to join in on all 
the fun! Memorial Park Pavilion. 

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC - Tuesday, Oct. 11 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Methodist Hospital will be holding a free to seniors clinic once a month in the Hart Park 
House. Walk in are welcome - no pre-registration required. 

LOTERIA: Oct. 20 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 
Come down to the HPH (Hart Park House) for a lively round of Loteria (Mexican Bingo) 
Prizes await! 

OCTOBER CRAFT Tuesday, October 25 10:30am Hart Park House 
Have you ever had interest in balloon art? Well you are in luck! Join Recreation Coordinator 
Pardo as she instructs us on how to create a cat, bat or pumpkin balloon column. Space is limited 
so please call or email Lawren to reserve your spot. 

SENIOR CINEMA Wednesday, 10/12— 1:00 pm HUBIE HALLOWEEN PG-13 1h 43m 
Good-natured but eccentric community volunteer Hubie Dubois finds himself at the center of 
a real murder case on Halloween night. Despite his devotion to his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts 
(and its legendary Halloween celebration).
Wednesday, 10/26 – Beginning at 1:00pm THE BIRDS PG 1h 59m 

SPECIAL MEDICARE PRESENTATION NEW DATE! Thursday 10/20, 9:00 am


10:00 am Hart Park House Please join Duarte Councilmember Vihn for 
a Medicare presentation. Pastries and coffee will be served during this informative 
presentation. Space is limited, call Lawren to reserve your spot. 
OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

IF ONLY I WOULD TAKE NOTES 

As a writer, I always have a small notebook in my shirt pocket to take 
notes when I have an idea. I don’t have too many ideas, so I want to 
write down any I get so I don’t forget them. That has helped me out on 
many occasions.
There is one exception. When The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage talks to me, I 
fail to take notes about that conversation. You would think after being married as long 
as I have, I would know better.
I never think of it until she asks, “Do you remember what I told you this morning?” 
That always catches me off my guard, which I think she just may be doing this on 
purpose.
Usually, she says this after lunch, and I have no recollection of any morning conversations. 
But, because I don’t remember, I get in deep trouble.
My confusion along this line is simple, is she saying this because it’s true or because she 
knows I don’t remember things? I believe that at this stage in our marriage, she has a 
good idea of what I can remember. Sorry to say, I don’t.
Then I come in and have to face, “Do you remember what I told you this morning?”
Once, trying to get a step ahead, I said, “Yes, I do remember, and I’ll get to it tomorrow.” 
Thinking this will solve a problem, I smile and go about my business. But, boy, 
was I wrong.
I can never outmaneuver The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. When I said that, 
she replied, “Great, what are you going to do tomorrow?”
I knew I was backed into a corner and responded as cheerfully as possible, “I’m going 
to do tomor-row what you told me to do this morning.”
I didn’t get off on that one. I didn’t think I would, but you never know until you try.
At my age, I’m not quite sure how the game is being played. I cannot tell if what she was 
telling me now is what she said to me in the morning. I think she plays me along this 
line, because if I forget something, then it’s all on me.
I try to tell The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage that, at my age, I’m too poor to pay 
attention. I tell her when I save up enough money, I will spend it on paying attention.
She never buys that. She looks at me, both hands on her hips, and says, “What have I 
told you about saying that?”
If only I could remember, I could beat her at this game. I’m unsure if I’m forgetting or 
if it never actually happened. I have no viable proof.
One day I tried it out for myself to see if I could trick her. She came into my office, and 
I said, “Remember what I told you this morning?”
“Yes, I do,” she said with a smirk, “here are the batteries you asked me to get at the 
store.” 
All I could do was say, “Thank you, my dear.” I have no recollection of ever asking her 
to pick up any batteries for me at the store. If I did, I sure don’t remember.
I have to give her credit on this one, she got me.
Turnaround is fair play, or so I thought, I came up with another idea.
The next time she said, “Remember what I told you this morning?” I looked at her and 
said, “Yes, my dear, and here are the donuts you asked me to get you this morning.” I 
then handed her a box of doughnuts from the bakery.
She replied, “If you remember, I said, don’t go nuts today.”
I just can’t win.
Of course, if I did get a notebook, I would have to buy a new one every week to keep 
up with her conversations with me. It might be worth the investment; it could keep me 
out of trouble. 
One time she asked me, “Do I need to get you some hearing aids?”
I’m thinking more about getting a recorder to tape our conversations. Unfortunately, I 
can’t find one with that much memory to record her conversations.
I had one more ploy, at least a try. The next time she said, “Remember what I told you 
this morn-ing?” Then, with my hands behind my back, I brought them forward with a 
bunch of flowers, gave them to her, and say, “Yes, my dear. Here are those flowers you 
requested.”
What was the great pay-off for that time, I couldn’t remember? She looked at those 
flowers and then looked at me and smiled and said, “Thank you.” And that’s all she 
said. 
I racked my brain all day trying to figure out how in the world I was able to capture 
that one. 
I may be learning to pay some attention; nobody knows how long this will last, at least 
me. 
Reflecting on this I was reminded of one of my favorite Bible verses.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In 
all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
My big failure is when I try to lean on my own understanding instead of trusting God. 
My trust in God will raise me above human understanding, which puts me on the right 
track. Also, my trust keeps me going in the right path. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com