The Time Is Now - Youville Assisted Living

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Assisted Living Residences

                                                                                                            July 2021
                             The Time Is Now
                             From January vaccinations to “going            Although we cannot predict the future,
                             maskless” in mid-June, we have navigated       we are optimistic that full programming
                             a whirlwind of change over the past six        will hold through the summer months
                             months. However, few of our incremental        and into the fall, if not longer, depending
                             returns to normalcy have felt as dramatic as   on whether or not there is a Covid-19
                             the most recent development: the return to     resurgence in the winter. But better not to
                             full programming at Youville.                  think about that! Now is the time to dive
                                                                            in and make up for lost time. We hope
                             This month, all month, we are thrilled to      that you will take advantage of this
                             offer in-person programs on a daily basis.     moment and enjoy spending more time
                             The newsletter has reverted to its old,        together in community.
                             longer format to accommodate a full
                             monthly schedule, where you will find a        On Thursday, July 22 we will host our first
                             complete listing of our July programs.         full Resident Management Meeting of the
                                                                            year. This is an opportunity for residents
                             Those of you who like to start your day        to meet with all Youville Directors to share
                             with morning exercise will be happy to         feedback, learn about upcoming plans and
                             see the return of Balance Challenge and        ask questions. Going forward, we will hold
                             Stretch & Flex every weekday.                  Resident Management Meetings every
                             We are also offering Catholic Mass,            month, so if you can’t make this one, you
                             nightly movies, Bingo, Happy Hour,             can plan to attend in August.
                             Flower Arranging, a lunch outing to Cafe
                             Escadrille, group shopping trips and a         Sincerely,
                             variety of additional virtual and in-person
                             programs.                                      Nicole Breslin
                                                                            President/CEO
                             There is more good news: attendance at
                             programs is no longer capped. All programs
                             are available to all residents!

                             Onsite Hearing Day with Dr. Richard Selleck
                             Friday, July 30
                             Schedule your hearing screening at Youville. Call Onsite Hearing at 978-452-4764 to set
                             up an appointment. See this month’s Age Well insert to learn more!
Virtual Programs in July                                   The Richard Travers Music Lecture Series
                                                                Hail Britannia!
    Note: These programs will be live-streamed.                 Wednesday, July 7 at 1:30 PM
    Residents may gather to attend in a group setting or        This lecture will include biographies and musical
    participate from their apartments via Zoom. If you          selections from the greatest English composers,
    prefer to participate from your apartment, simply ask       including Purcell, Britten, Handel and Tippett, as
    the Programs Department to email you the access             well as a closer look at the nationalist composers such
    information.                                                as Ralph Vaughan-Williams and Gustav Holst.
                                                                Mr. Travers will present and discuss a wide range of
    Art Matters Presents . . .                                  choral and instrumental music.
     Impressionism
     Thursday, July 1 at 1:30 PM                                The Music of Kander & Ebb
     The Impressionist painters captured light, nature and      Wednesday, July 14 at 1:30 PM
     human experience in their collective works. Having         John Kander and Fred Ebb were a highly successful
     little in common except a common antipathy toward          American songwriting team known primarily for their
     the Academy, artists like Monet, Renoir and Degas          stage musicals. Their notable works include Cabaret
     broke with long-held conventions in painting and           and Chicago, the song “New York, New York,” and
     changed the way the whole world looked at art.             several movie scores. This multi-media presentation
     Their revolutionary style of painting spread throughout    will trace the duo through their career, with
     the artworld, influencing a whole new generation of        biographical anecdotes, movie clips and plenty of
     artists. Join us for a close look at the paintings that    musical selections.
     ushered in the modern era.
                                                                The Life & Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
     Post-Impressionism                                         Wednesday, July 21 at 1:30 PM
     Thursday, July 8 at 1:30 PM                                Andrew Lloyd Webber is an English composer and
     The Impressionists were the first painters to use color    impresario of musical theater. Several of his 13 musicals
     and technique as a means of expressing emotion in          have run for more than a decade both in the West End
     their work. They influenced a generation of subsequent     and on Broadway. In 2001, the New York Times
     painters known as the Post-Impressionists, bold            referred to him as “the most commercially successful
     visionaries who pushed the boundaries of painting          composer in history”.
     further away from realism and forged new creative
     ground in the 20th century. Join us for a look at the      The Life & Music of Judy Garland
     iconic works of the Post-Impressionists.                   Wednesday, July 28 at 1:30 PM
                                                                Judy Garland was a beloved American actress, singer
     Marc Chagall                                               and dancer. With a career spanning 45 years, she
     Thursday, July 15 at 1:30 PM                               attained international stardom as an actress in both
     Marc Chagall merged traditional images from his            musical and dramatic roles in The Wizard of Oz, Meet
     Russian Jewish background with the modern styles           Me in St. Louis, A Star is Born and many more.
     of Cubism and Fauvism. His poetic paintings portray        Musically, she was renowned as a recording artist and
     fables of love, nightmares of war and soul-refreshing      on the concert stage.
     humor. Join us for a retrospective look at the life and
     work of one of history’s most versatile artists.

2
American Presidents with Rick Tulipano                       Opera Lecture Series with Erika Reitshamer
Monday, July 5 at 3:00 PM                                     The Tenors Sing Out!
Join Rick Tulipano for a riveting talk about the successes    Monday, July 12 at 3:00 PM
and failures of four United States presidents: George         In this presentation, Erika Reitshamer shares the rich
Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James            history of tenor singers in opera. She will recount how
Madison. This program will examine the public and             the first tenor voice came into being and introduce
private lives of our early commanders-in-chief (and           some of the earliest singers whose voices made them
founding fathers) with engaging anecdotes, paintings,         famous. Attendees will learn about the technical
photography and maps to bring their struggles and             challenges of singing in a tenor register and encounter
triumphs into historical context.                             the different kinds of tenor voices through audiovisual
                                                              excerpts of great performances through history.
Following the presentation, audience members will have
time to ask questions and engage in discussion with the       Voice Fest: The Great Operatic Divas
presenter.                                                    Monday, July 26 at 3:00 PM
                                                              This presentation explores the wide range of female
Writing Workshop with Tom Daley                               opera voices, from the high soluratura soprano down
Tuesday, July 13 & 27 at 2:00 PM                              to the low alto range. Ms. Reitshamer will share exerpts
Award-winning poet and local writing instructor Tom           from scenes and arias featuring famous singers of the
Daley returns to Youville to lead two memoir-writing          past and present.
workshops. Experienced and/or aspiring writers are
encouraged to join! Mr. Daley will lead participants         The Presenter:
through a series of prompts to help set a scene and          Erika Reitshamer is a life-long opera lover and lecturer
stimulate the imagination and memory. If you are             who was a founding member of the Boston Lyric Opera
currently at work on a literary endeavor, this is a great    Company more than 40 years ago. She has served as vice
opportunity to build on or add to your writing.              president of the Boston Wagner Society for many years,
                                                             is a board member of the New England Opera Club, a
The Artifactual Scholar: Paolo di Gregorio                   member of the Sudbury Opera Lovers Organization and
The Statue of Liberty                                        teaches opera appreciation at Regis College.
Monday, July 19 at 3:00 PM
The Statue of Liberty is an international icon, a symbol
recognized around the world. Yet, many people do not         Introduction to CaptionCall
know the story behind the statue. This talk will explore     Tuesday, July 27 at 3:00 PM
how and why the statue was built, the meaning of the         Has hearing loss made talking on the phone a frustrat-
symbolism of the statue and what the statue means to         ing experience? If so, you may be eligible for a free
millions of people today. Along the way, we will meet        telephone service that transcribes conversations into
an array of colorful characters who were involved in         readable text as you are talking. CaptionCall is part of
creating this symbol of our nation. Join Professor Paolo     a federally funded program that provides people with
di Gregorio as he reacquaints us with the compelling         hearing loss captioned telephone services at no charge.
story of Lady Liberty.                                       To learn more about CaptionCall and whether you may
                                                             be eligible, don’t miss this introductory presentation via
                                                             Zoom.

                                                                                                                          3
July 2021
                                                                                                                                                                         1    9:00    Catholic Mass            2                                   3
                                                                                                                                           9:45 Balance Challenge                                                  10:00 Great Couses on DVD:
                                                                                                                                           1:30 ArtMatters Lecture            9:45    Balance Challenge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Experiencing America: A
                                                                                                                                                via Zoom w/ Jane Blair        10:30   Guided Meditation
                                            Country Store                       PS Salon Hours                 Transportation Hours                                                                                      Smithsonian Tour through
                                                                                                                                           3:00 4th of July Happy Hour        1:30    Garden Club
                                            Opening Soon!!!                         Tuesday                    Monday through Friday                                                                                     American History: Part 1
                                                                                                                                           7:00 Movie: And So it Goes         3:00    Flower Arranging
                                                                              9:00 AM - 2:30 PM                 8:00 AM- 2:00 PM                                                                                   2:00 Matinee Movie: The Crown:
                                                                                                                                                                              7:00    Movie: I am Greta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Season 3: Episode 4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   7:00 Movie: The Secret Life of Bees

                              49:00       Catholic Mass          5    9:00 Catholic Mass         6     9:00  Catholic Mass            7                                  8    9:00    Catholic Mass              9                                  10
9:00 Catholic Mass             9:45       Stretch & Flex              9:45 Stretch & Flex              9:45  Balance Challenge             9:45 Balance Challenge             9:45    Balance Challenge              10:00 Great Couses on DVD:
2:00 Matinee Movie: Philomenia 1:30       Bingo                       1:30 Outdoor Concert             10:30 Centering Prayer              1:30 ArtMatters Lecture            10:30   Guided Meditation                    Experiencing America: A
8:00 Boston Pops Fireworks     3:00       History Lecture via Zoom      w/ Nancy Day & John Georges    1:30  Music Lecture Series via           via Zoom w/ Jane Blair        1:30    Acryllic Painting w/ Alejandra       Smithsonian Tour through
     Spectacular on TV                    w/ Rick Tulipano            3:00 Jeopardy Trivia                   Zoom w/ Richard Travers       3:00 Happy Hour                    3:00    Flower Arranging                     American History: Part 2
                               7:00       Movie: Yours, Mine & Ours   7:00 Movie: The Manchurian        3:00 Bingo                         7:00 Movie: RBG                    7:00    Movie: Princess Bride          2:00  Matinee  Movie: The Crown:
                                                                           Candidate                    7:00 Movie: The Marriage Story                                                                                     Season 3: Episode 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     7:00 Movie: Newsies

                         11        9:00
                                     Catholic Mass       12           9:00 Catholic Mass        13     9:00 Catholic Mass            14    9:45 Balance Challenge      15 9:00 Catholic Mass             16                                      17
9:00 Catholic Mass                 9:45
                                     Stretch & Flex                   9:45 Stretch & Flex              9:30 Balance Challenge              1:30 ArtMatters Lecture                                                  10:00 Great Couses on DVD:
                                                                                                                                                                          9:45 Balance Challenge
2:00 Matinee Movie:                1:30
                                     Bingo                            2:00 Memoir Writing via Zoom     10:30Centering Prayer                    via Zoom w/ Jane Blair                                                    Experiencing America: A
                                                                                                                                                                          10:30 Guided Meditation
     Breaking Boundaries           3:00
                                     Opera Lecture via Zoom                w/ Tom Daley                1:30 Music Lecture Series via       3:00 Happy Hour                                                                Smithsonian Tour through
                                                                                                                                                                          11:00 Lunch Trip: Cafe Escadrille
7:00 Movie: Breaking Boundaries      w/ Erika Reitshamer              2:00 Ballroom Dancing                 Zoom w/ Richard Travers        7:00 Movie: Tesla                                                              American History: Part 3
                                                                                                                                                                          3:00 Flower Arranging
                                7:00 Movie: The Dig                        w/ Michael Winward          3:00 Bingo                                                                                                   2:00 Matinee Movie: The Crown:
                                                                                                                                                                          3:30 Cocktails w/ Susan
                                                                      7:00 Movie: Blue Miracle         7:00 Movie: The Danish Girl                                                                                        Season 3: Episode 6
                                                                                                                                                                          7:00 Movie: Amazing Grace
                                                                                                                                                                                Aretha Franklin                     7:00 Movie: West Side Story

                            18     9:00 Catholic Mass         19      9:00 Catholic Mass      20       9:00  Catholic Mass            21                              22      9:00 Catholic Mass           23                                    24
                                                                                                       9:30  Balance Challenge             9:45   Balance Challenge                                                10:00 Great Couses on DVD:
                                   9:45 Stretch & Flex                9:45 Stretch & Flex                                                                                     9:45 Balance Challenge
9:00 Catholic Mass                                                                                     10:30 Centering Prayer              1:30   Resident Management Mtg.                                               Experiencing America: A
                                   1:30 Bingo                         1:30 Trip: Bedford Farm                                                                                 10:30 Guided Meditation
2:00 Matinee Movie:                                                                                    1:30  Music Lecture Series via      3:00   Happy Hour                                                             Smithsonian Tour through
                                   3:00 History Lecture via Zoom           Ice Cream                                                                                          1:30 Trip: Afternoon Ride
     Bending the Arc                                                                                        Zoom w/ Richard Travers        7:00   Movie: The Upside                                                      American History: Part 4
                                        w/ Paolo                      3:00 Matinee Movie: TBA                                                                                 3:00 Flower Arranging
7:00 Movie: Bending the Arc                                                                            3:00 Bingo                                                                                                  2:00 Matinee Movie: The Crown:
                                   7:00 Movie: Suffragette            7:00 Movie: My Octupus Teacher                                                                          7:00 Movie: The United States vs.
                                                                                                       7:00 Movie: Lee Daniels’                                                                                          Season 3: Episode 7
                                                                                                                                                                                    Billie Holiday
                                                                                                            The Butler                                                                                             7:00 Movie: Rent

                              25   9:00 Catholic Mass       26        9:00  Catholic Mass       27 9:00 Catholic Mass                28                                  29   9:00 Catholic Mass          30                                 31
                                                                      9:45   Stretch & Flex                                                                                   9:45 Balance Challenge           10:00 Great Couses on DVD:
                                   9:45 Stretch & Flex                                                 9:30 Balance Challenge              9:45 Balance Challenge
9:00 Catholic Mass                                                    11:00  Let’s Talk Food                                                                                  10:30Guided Meditation                 Experiencing America: A
                                   1:30 Bingo                                                         10:30 Centering Prayer               10:30 Current Events w/ Pam
2:00 Matinee Movie:                                                   2:00   Memoir Writing via Zoom 1:30 Music Lecture Series via                                            2:00 Outdoor Concert                   Smithsonian Tour through
                                   3:00 Opera Lecture via Zoom                                                                             1:30 Outdoor Concert:
     Penguin Bloom                                                           w/ Tom Daley                                                                                          w/ DJ George Landers              American History: Part 5
                                        w/ Erika Reitshamer                                                 Zoom w/ Richard Travers              Modernistics Trio
7:00 Movie: Penguin Bloom                                             3:00 Caption Call Presentation 3:00 Bingo                                                               3:00 Flower Arranging            2:00  Matinee  Movie: The Crown:
                                   7:00 Movie: Rain Man                                                                                    3:00 Happy Hour
                                                                          via Zoom w/ Deirdre Ferranti 7:00 Movie: Amelia: A Tale of                                          7:00 Movie: Charles & Diana 1983       Season 3: Episode 8
                                                                                                                                           7:00 Movie: The Age of Adaline
                                                                      7:00 Movie: Eat Pray Love                                                                                                                7:00 Movie: Pinocchio
                                                                                                            Two Sisters
Celebrating Independence Day                               Sunlight, Vitamin D & You
    Everyone loves Independence Day,                           When sunlight hits our skin, our bodies use that light to
    the classic American holiday.                              make vitamin D. Vitamin D helps us absorb calcium and
    Here are some surprising facts                             other minerals that keep our bones, muscles and joints
    that you might not know:                                   strong.

    • Independence Day commemorates                            We find it naturally in eggs, and in fatty fish like salmon,
      the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence   tuna and sardines. Some foods, like milk or yogurt, are
      on July 4, 1776. However, it was not declared a legal    fortified with vitamin D. But the easiest way to get it is
      holiday until 1941.                                      through direct exposure to sunlight. In just 10-15
                                                               minutes a day, our skin absorbs enough sunlight to
    • Fireworks were made in China as early as the 11th        provide our daily requirement of vitamin D.
      century. The Chinese used their pyrotechnic
      mixtures for war rockets and explosives.                 We need vitamin D to absorb calcium and minerals to
                                                               keep our bones strong. The Mayo Clinic lists vitamin D
    • Uncle Sam was first popularized during the War of        as one of three preventative measures against osteoporosis
      1812, when the term appeared on supply containers.       (the other two being adequate calcium intake and
      Believe it or not, the U.S. Congress didn’t adopt him    exercise). Osteoporosis is age-related and characterized by
      as a national symbol until 1961.                         the loss of bone tissue. As bones age, they shed cells more
                                                               quickly than they add new cells, making them brittle
    • Not all members of the Continental Congress              and more fragile. A lack of vitamin D prevents us from
      supported a formal Declaration of Independence,          absorbing calcium and regenerating bone tissue.
      but those who did were passionate about it.
      One representative rode 80 miles by horseback to         Want to have healthy bones? Combine a weight-bearing
      reach Philadelphia and break a tie in support of         exercise with sunlight. Even a brief walk in the sun will
      independence.                                            keep your bones strong, while ensuring that you get your
                                                               daily dose of vitamin D.
    • The first two versions of the Liberty Bell were
      defective and had to be melted down and recast.
                                                               Happy Birthday!
      The third version rang every Fourth of July from
      1778 to 1835, when, it is said, it cracked as it         Gloria R.               July 6
      was being tolled for the death of Chief Justice          Carl D.			              July 9
      John Marshall.                                           Minna H.		              July 17
                                                               Claire E.		             July 19
    • The American national anthem, the “Star-Spangled         Janet G.		              July 25
      Banner,” is set to the tune of an English drinking       Jane B.			              July 27
      song “To Anacreon in Heaven.”

    • The ironwork frame of the Statue of Liberty was          Like Us On Facebook
      devised by French engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel,     Visit our Facebook page any time for updates, photos,
      who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.                videos and more. When you “like” us on Facebook, we
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6
Community Outings                                            Outdoor Concert Series
                                                             An Afternoon of Music with Nancy Day
Cafe Escadrille                                              & Drummer John George
Friday, July 16                                              Tuesday, July 6 at 1:30 PM
Depart: 11:00 AM                                             An accomplished pianist, singer and composer, Nancy
Return: 2:00 PM          Cost: $ for lunch                   Day consistently thrills audiences with her dynamic
An impressive menu and elegant, country-estate feel          performances. She draws from a wide-ranging repertoire
have earned Cafe Escadrille high praise from food-lovers     that includes jazz, country, ragtime, musical theater
throughout Greater Boston. For lunch, patrons can            and enchanting love songs. This month, she is joined by
enjoy an assortment of fresh seafood, hot sandwiches and     drummer and longtime-collaborator John George.
a selection of elegant entrees. Cafe Escadrille’s name and
interior decor were inspired by the Lafeyette Escadrille,    Steps in Time with Michael Winward
a squadron of the French Air Service formed in April of      Tuesday, July 13 at 2:00 PM & 3:00 PM
1916, prior to the United States’ entry into World War I.    Inspired by the idea that people of all ages and abilities
                                                             should have opportunities to dance, Michael Winward
Bedford Farms Ice Cream                                      has led social Ballroom and Latin dance workshops
Tuesday, July 27                                             throughout Greater Boston, witnessing firsthand the
Depart: 1:30 PM                                              many benefits that dancing provides for the
Return: 2:30 PM         Cost: $ for ice cream                “Over-55” community. Dance encourages good
There’s no better way to embrace summer than with a          posture, offers low-impact, cardiovascular exercise and
trip to Bedform Farms. Choose from over 60 flavors of        connects people through the skills of leading and
homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt and soft-serve – all       following.
locally-sourced and delicious!
                                                             The Modernistics
                                                             Thursday, July 29 at 1:30 PM
                                                             The Modernistics are Ted Powers (guitar, ukelele,
Watch the Summer Olympics                                    percussion, tap and vocals), Pamela Powers (tap and
Mark your calendars: the first games of the Summer           vocals), Peter Bloom (flute), Mark Leighton (guitar)
Olympics begin Friday, July 23! Root for Team USA as         and Dave Zox (double bass). The group performs
they travel to Tokyo, Japan to compete for the gold in a     upbeat shows with music and dance from the Great
variety of summer sports.                                    American Songbook, including crowd-pleasing favorites
                                                             by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Irving
Originally scheduled for 2020, the Summer Olympics           Berlin, Dorothy Fields and other master tunesmiths. In
were postponed to 2021 because of Covid-19.                  2020, the Modernistics began a new show to usher in
Event categories include track and field, swimming,          the new decade: the Roaring Twenties, featuring hit
biking, basketball, baseball, diving, archery, gymnastics,   tunes like “Blue Skies,” “Stardust,” “Bye Bye Blackbird,”
rowing, sailing, tennis, triathlon, football (soccer),       “Crazy Rhythm,” “Let’s Misbehave,” “Someone to
weight-lifting, field hockey and many more.                  Watch Over Me” and the Fats Waller tune
                                                             “Squeeze Me.”
The games will be broadcast on NBC from July 23 to
August 9. Stay tuned!                                        Summer Dance Party with DJ George Landers
                                                             Friday, July 30 at 2:00 PM
                                                             Enjoy a summer dance party with DJ George Landers!

                                                                                                                          7
Save the Dates...                                        Transportation Services
                                                         Transportation Hours
Resident Meeting                                         Monday through Friday
w/ Joanne Scianna                                        8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday, July 7, 14 &21 at 11:00 AM                    The fee for transportation is $10.00 for Lexington and
                                                         $20.00 for surrounding communities. Please see the
Resident Management Meeting                              Programs Department with any questions. We will
w/ Youville Directors                                    make every effort to accommodate your wishes,
Thursday, July 16 at 1:30 PM                             but please understand that no transportation can be
                                                         guaranteed with less than 48 hours notice.
Let’s Talk Food
w/ Director of Dining Services, Dan MacRae
Tuesday, July 27 at 11:00 AM                             Programs / Menu Hotline...
                                                         Have you ever wondered whether your favorite program
                                                         is on the schedule for the day? Would you like to know in
                                                         advance what the daily menu choices are? Now you can hear
                                                         a recorded list of the daily programs as well as the menu for
                                                         lunch and dinner at Youville Place. Simply call
                                                         (781) 761-1334 directly, or call the Reception Desk
Country Store
                                                         and the receptionist will connect you.
Store Hours
Monday         10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Friday 		      10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Store Volunteers:
Sr. Theresa R. & Sr. Dolores B.                          Youville Place Management Team

                                                         Nicole Breslin          CEO & President
                                                         Joanne Scianna          COO
                                                         Tom Landry          		  Director of Human Resources
                                                         Kathleen Kelleher		     Director of Mission &
                                                         				Spiritual Care
                         Mission                         Paula Desmond-Wallace   Regional Controller
      We are a Catholic health ministry, providing       Katie Blanchard    		   Director of Programs
    healing and care for the whole person, in service    Susan Snow			           Director of Marketing
               to all in our communities.                Kathryn Carlino, RN 		  Director of Wellness
                       Our Heritage                      Dan MacRae			           Director of Dining Services
         Youville Assisted Living Residences are         Bob Salamanca       		  Director of Environmental
         communities grounded in the spirit of                                		 Services
   St. Marguerite d’Youville, foundress of the Sisters   Virginia Ellis    		    Director of Community Life
   of Charity of Montreal, “Grey Nuns.” Trusting in      Yanira Burgos			Director of
  God’s love, each community serves all those in need    				Community Relations
             with compassion and respect.                Heather Luce 		         Director of the Courtyard
Get fit. Stay sharp. Age well.                                                  ©

                                                                                                      July 2021
              Hearing Loss and What You Can Do About It
              Knocker: “Knock knock.”
              Knockee: Who’s there?
              Knocker: “…Hearing Loss….”
              Knockee: Hearing Loss Who?
              Knocker: “I said, ‘It’s likely that you are living with hearing loss – Please read on to learn more
                       about this highly common, aging-related condition!’”

              Indeed, hearing loss is one of the most common aging-related conditions, affecting one in
              five Americans. Every ten years, the risk of developing hearing loss doubles. As many Youville
              residents can attest, hearing loss can have unpleasant ramifications that go beyond missing the
              punchline to a hastily crafted joke. These include ongoing difficulty engaging in conversations,
              increased isolation and even a higher risk of falling. A 2013 study at Johns Hopkins University
              found that people whose hearing loss affected the quality of their conversations were 24% more
              likely to experience cognitive decline.

              The good news is that in many cases, hearing loss can be addressed and mitigated. This month,
              we are pleased to resume in-house audiology appointments with Dr. Richard Selleck from
              Onsite Hearing on Friday, July 30. Appointments must be made in advance by calling the
              Onsite Dental Office at 978-452-4764. If you would like to learn more about the service, you
              can also call their office with questions or contact a member of the Programs Department.

              Who should consider getting a hearing screening?
 Physical     The symptoms of hearing loss are not always easy to identify, nor is it easy to acknowledge the
              severity of the condition. Some signs that you may be experiencing hearing loss are:
              • People seem to be mumbling. The sound of language becomes less distinct when we lose
               our hearing. This is because in the early stages of hearing loss, we lose the ability to detect
Cognitive      consonants or digraphs such as “sh” and “ch.” If someone says, “I think you may have hearing
               loss,” a person with hearing loss might hear something more like this: “I_i__oo__aayah_eery_
               oss.”
              • Talking on the phone is more challenging. Even for those of us with perfectly healthy ears,
Nutritional    holding a phone to just one ear reduces our hearing ability. If that one ear is also impaired,
               phone conversations can be especially difficult to follow.
              • Certain sounds start to seem louder. It sounds counterintuitive, but when people lose their
               hearing, the hair cells lining the inner ear die at an uneven rate. The remaining cells can
 Spiritual
                                                                                                         continued
compensate for the loss by becoming more sensitive to louder noises.
 As a result, some sounds might start to seem louder or more startling than
 others.
• Everyone is telling you to turn down the TV. Many people don’t realize          Get fit. Stay sharp. Age well.©
 they have been steadily cranking up the volume on their sets as they strain
 to follow a show. When others start to point out how loud the television
                                                                                       Dance is one of the few cardiovascular
 is, it may be time to get your hearing checked.
                                                                                       workouts that enables you to connect
• You feel like you’re getting clumsier. Hearing loss has been associated              physically with music in a structured
 with poor balance and an increased risk of falling – this is partly because           setting. Regular dancing strengthens
 our inner ears are where we get our sense of balance. When hearing loss               bones and tones muscles throughout
 occurs, the sense of balance is also affected. In many cases, hearing aids can         the body.
 dramatically improve a person’s balance and personal safety.
                                                                                       Dark leafy greens are a rich source of
• You start forgetting things people say to you. When messages are                     vitamins C, K, E and B, as well as iron,
 imperfectly received due to hearing loss, it is more difficult to piece them          calcium and fiber, which are essential
 together and remember what they mean.                                                 for good health.
• You get distracted more easily. Following a conversation can
 be especially taxing for someone with impaired hearing. This is why it                Meditation and prayer are arguably the
 becomes harder to pay attention when listening to a lengthy speech or                 two most common spiritual practices in
 engaging in long discussions.                                                         the world. These practices not only
                                                                                       connect us with faith traditions, but
People who receive treatment for hearing loss report significant benefits,             engage the spark of life at the center of
including improved morale, increased self-confidence, better balance and a             our being.
renewed sense of connection with family and friends. Treatment for hearing
                                                                                       Even with a lifetime of facts and
loss varies according to the nature of the problem. In some cases, wax
                                                                                        impressions crammed into our brains,
build-up may be discovered, the remedy for which is simple and effective.              we always have the ability to learn new
In the event of damage to the cochlea, hearing aids can amplify sound as it            things. The brain retains what is called
passes through the middle ear. Another option is cochlear implants, which              “neuroplasticity” in later life, the ability to
perform the work of signal transmission that the damaged cochlea can no                make new neural pathways.
longer perform.
                                                                                       Crafts such as knitting, crocheting,
The audiologists from Onsite Hearing Care can work with you to assess                  painting, cooking, woodworking or
your hearing and determine the best treatment. If you have found yourself              gardening offer a unique mix of
straining to hear conversations lately, be sure to make an appointment with            experiences that promote mental and
them for their Friday, July 30 visit. Simply call their office at 978-852-             emotional wellness, and may even protect
4764 and tell them you are a Youville Place resident. They will be happy to            against age-related cognitive decline.
schedule an appointment time and answer any questions you have.

                                                  Assisted Living Residences
                       Youville House • 1573 Cambridge Street • Cambridge, MA 02138 • 617.491.1234
           Youville Place • 10 Pelham Road • Lexington, MA 02421 • 781.861.3535 • www.youvilleassistedliving.org
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