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My parents live solely on Social Security and live in subsidized housing. Their only medical insurance is Medicare, which does not cover dentures or hearing aids. My siblings and I help them when we can but are unable to make large purchases for them.
My parents recently went into debt in order to get dentures for my mother, who had virtually no teeth of her own; they are still paying off the dentures little by little. Mom worked in factories all of her life and has very little hearing left. She is unable to fully participate in family functions since she can barely hear, and she gets very frustrated at feeling "left out." Are there any agencies that assist the elderly in obtaining free or very low-cost hearing aids?
K.V., Mishawaka K.V., the Hearing & Speech Center of St. Joseph County is exactly the sort of agency you're looking for. It can assist your mother or others in her situation. The not-for-profit agency is located in the United Health Services office at Indiana 23 and North Main Street in Granger. First, your mother needs a referral from a physician for a hearing test. The doctor's office can fax that to the Hearing & Speech Center, according to Leanne Hendricks, who handles scheduling for appointments. Then you would need to set up an appointment for the hearing screening for your mother. That would be covered by Medicare, which the center can file for you, Hendricks said. After her hearing test, the audiologist will let your mother know about her options and what hearing aids would work. Of course, you or one of your siblings and/or your father may accompany her. The Hearing & Speech Center works with Lions Clubs International, which obtains hearing aids for individuals with limited financial means. Basically, the hearing aids are loaned as long as someone needs them. The only cost is for the ear molds, which are about $55 each, Hendricks said. The center will follow up with fitting and adjustments of the hearing aid, too. There are also programs through the center that offer the purchase of hearing aids at a reasonable cost, she said. More information may be obtained by calling the Hearing & Speech Center at (574) 247-6047. Hearing aids for the Lions Clubs program come from donation coordinated through Riley Children's Hospital, Hendricks said. Lions Clubs also collect used prescription eyeglasses to assist people who can't afford them. Along with eyeglasses, hearing aids that are no longer needed may be placed in the Lions Clubs donation boxes around the state. (by southbendtribune.com)
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