Protect Your Hearing: A Vital Message for Seniors This October
- Meals on Wheels South Florida
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, a perfect time to raise awareness about the importance of hearing health, especially for seniors. For many older adults, maintaining good hearing is essential for staying connected, safe, and engaged with the world around them.
Seniors participating in our program benefit not only from nutritious meals but also from vital social interaction and check-ins by caring volunteers. This contact can be a lifeline, but it also highlights why protecting hearing health is crucial.
Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting seniors. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders[1], about one in three people aged 65 to 74 experience some hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. Left unaddressed, hearing loss can lead to social isolation, depression, and even cognitive decline.
For Meals on Wheels participants, hearing loss can pose unique challenges. Communicating with volunteers, hearing safety alerts, or simply enjoying a friendly conversation can become more challenging. When hearing fades, so does the ease of connection, which can increase feelings of loneliness, a critical concern in senior health.
This October, take steps to protect your hearing or help a loved one do the same:
Get Regular Hearing Check-ups: Early detection is key. A hearing test can identify issues before they worsen, so speak with your doctor as soon as you notice a change in your hearing abilities.
Use Hearing Protection: Avoid loud environments or use earplugs when necessary to prevent further damage.
Stay Connected: Use assistive listening devices or technologies designed
to improve communication.
Encourage Open Dialogue: If you are a volunteer or caregiver, gently ask about hearing difficulties and offer support where necessary.
Our program does more than deliver meals; we provide care, companionship, and safety to the seniors we serve throughout Broward County. By promoting hearing health awareness, we can ensure seniors continue to fully enjoy these benefits.
This National Protect Your Hearing Month, let’s champion hearing health for seniors in our communities. Healthy hearing helps keep our elders safe, socially active, and connected to the people and experiences they love.
Here's how you can help:
Volunteer: Give an hour or two of your time to deliver meals and a much-needed wellness check. A friendly conversation can make all the difference to a senior in your neighborhood. Register today!
Donate: Your financial gift helps support programs that ensure our seniors are not forgotten. Every donation, no matter the size, helps "End the Wait" for seniors in need of meal services.
YOU can join us in making a difference this October
because your compassion is their lifeline.
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