I read with interest the OUR VIEW article “Tackling Loneliness” in the Feb. 1 edition of the paper. While I agree that our modern lifestyle and habits such as the constant use of cell phones can contribute to this problem, there is another significant factor that you have failed to mention, and that is loss of hearing.
This can occur at any age, for a wide variety of reasons, and the constant use of cell phones may, in future be found to be a key factor. Regardless of such factors, this is a problem that is more prevalent as people age.
As a person’s hearing deteriorates, they tend to isolate themselves more and more because they become embarrassed to ask others to constantly repeat themselves. Also, only understanding part of what is going on around one diminishes one’s enjoyment and acerbates the tendency to withdraw from society. Isolation, as you point out, has “real, tangible effects on people’s bodies and minds”.
The obvious answer would seem to be hearing aids, which are widely advertised and come in a variety of levels. However, the cost of such aids is prohibitive to many people, particularly those elderly folk who are on fixed incomes. The average cost of properly fitted and monitored hearing aids is around $5,000 – more than many people can easily pay. If you are one of a couple, it is likely that you will both require hearing aids around the same time. The cost then jumps to $10,000. I like to refer to it as “a tax on the elderly”. Consider too the fact that these aids have a lifespan of around five years and you could be looking at twice that amount in a relatively short space of time. Not many people have the good fortune to have access to that kind of money.
I understand that for some who have lost hearing because of workplace noise, there are free hearing aids provided through Workers’ Compensation. However, for those whose hearing loss is caused by aging, or illness, this is not the case.
I recognize that research and development of hearing aids was costly, and that setting up an audiologist’s office is similarly costly. However, hearing aids have been around for decades now – I remember my grandmother having one seventy years ago – and while they have improved beyond all comparison with earlier versions, I cannot believe that it still costs such exorbitant amounts of money to bring these to market nowadays.
While I applaud the recently instituted help for seniors with their dental expenses, I personally feel that a break when it comes to hearing aids would be of equal, if not greater benefit. I wrote to the BC Minister of Health some time ago to express my concern and to ask whether a government subsidy could be instituted in this province. I know that such a subsidy exists in Ontario and, I believe in other provinces too, but there is no assistance in BC. After quite a delay I received a proforma reply from the Minister’s office, and nothing further. I got a much more detailed answer from MPP Sonia Furstenau, but of course such grants are not in her power.
After a lifetime of working and paying taxes, I really feel that seniors should get some help if they need it, to be able to afford the “luxury” of hearing.
Rosemary Kennedy
Maple Bay