Page 34 - Jewish News_January-2021

34A January 2021 JEWISH INTEREST

Aging Jewishly – What our traditions teach us about growing old

From bad to worse – when seniors with hearing loss

deal with masks

By Rabbi Barbara Aiello
he Covid-19 era has created a masks, but we don’t have matching may hear nothing above a whisper. Covid you experienced hearing chal-
myriad of lifestyle changes for masks. When a mask covers the speaker’s lenges, be aware that now it is even Political and Virus-Fighting “Tribe”
Tseniors, among them the social Lydia is now shaking her head. mouth, speech clarity suffers. The spo- more important that you serve as your It’s likely that you know a few of the
isolation that results from limited con- “It’s a match. Your mask and your hat.” ken word becomes muffled, garbled own advocate. That means asking following persons are Jewish. But I am
tact with others. So imagine how happy Ruthie, still miffed, mutters, “OK, and often distorted, creating misunder- friends and family to speak more slow- quite certain that most will be new to
Lydia was when she noticed that right I put on a few pounds but stop saying standings such as Ruthie’s confusing ly and to repeat when you aren’t sure you. For brevity’s sake, I am omitting
in front of her in the grocery checkout that I’m fat!” “hat” with “fat.” what was said. all or most of their biographies, which
line, albeit so- Thanks to health professional and Understanding what is said to us is Remember that louder isn’t always you can easily find online. As I write
cially distant by author Joy Stephenson-Laws, we learn a process that combines facial expres- better. Asking the speaker to use low- this (December 6), the following “tribe
six feet or more, that Lydia’s and Ruthie’s dilemma sions, smiles, frowns, quizzical contor- er tones is often more effective. Carry members” have been announced as
stood Ruthie, one is not unique. In her article “How to tions, mugging and even wrinkling the a notebook and pen so that you can nominees for cabinet-level positions
of her very best Overcome Boomer Hearing Challeng- nose. Ms. Stephenson-Laws reminds ask the speaker to write the question in the Biden administration: RON
friends. es in a Masked World,” (Sixty and Me us that “a facial covering makes it or comment, thus avoiding misun- KLAIN, 59, Chief of Staff; ANTONY
Of course, 11/15/20), Ms. Stephenson-Laws dis- very difficult to detect and process the derstanding. And if you wear hearing BLINKEN, 58, Secretary of State;
Lydia was wear- cusses hearing loss among seniors and multitude of facial cues” … that give aids, Ms. Stephenson-Laws cautions ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, 61,
ing her face how these difficulties are exacerbated speech “emotional context.” that “using a mask with ties rather than Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary
mask since she when masks cover both the speaker’s Just like Lydia and Ruthie, it was elastic or fixed ear loops will help you (he is the Cuba-born son of a Sephar-
Rabbi Barbara Aiello wouldn’t venture and the listener’s mouth. almost impossible for Ruthie to discern better fit your mask and reduce the risk di father and an Ashkenazi mother);
out without it. Ruthie had her mask on Ms. Stephenson-Laws explains what Lydia was trying to tell her, while of the mask knocking your hearing aid AVRIL HAINES, 41, Director of
as well. It boasted a three-layered flow- that since 70% of seniors who are 70 Lydia was frustrated because Ruthie out of your ear.” National Intelligence (her late mother
er pattern that matched the scarf that years or older experience some degree was obviously annoyed. Speaking through a mask and un- was Jewish and she identifies as Jew-
she had tied around her sun hat. of hearing loss, the wearing of a facial Apparently, mask wearing will be derstanding what the “mask-er” has said ish); and JANET YELLEN, 74, Sec-
“Ruthie, Ruthie,” was Lydia’s muf- mask can create special challenges for with us for a while. If so, what can be requires patience. Abigail Treu, writing retary of the Treasury.
fled cry. “Dahling, it’s been ages. And I them in three main areas: volume, clar- done to increase communication and for JTS Torah Online (12/11/20), re- As I write this, the Covid-19 vac-
Helping the Injured Since 1990
must say that’s quite a hat!” ity and process. comprehension while our noses and minds us that Jewish tradition empha- cines developed by Pfizer and Mod-
Ruthie squared her shoulders. When Lydia met Ruthie in the su- mouths are covered? Ms. Stephen- sizes that “patience is one of the key erna are on the cusp of FDA approval
“Lydia, you haven’t seen me in months permarket, she began to speak with her son-Laws offers suggestions for both character traits we are to focus on in for distribution to the public. They
SARASOTA
and the first thing you say is that I look friend in what was, most likely, her the listener and the speaker. our spiritual, ethical and emotional de- will almost certainly be the first Covid
fat?” 308 Cocoanut Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236 If you are the speaker, speak as velopment.” She says that “underneath vaccines given in the United States.
normal tone. Specialists have deter-
M. David Shapiro toll free 1.800.954.4014 | office 941.954.4000 | fax 941.955.3632 clearly as you can and take a pause patience lies hope. In fact, kivah in The CEO of Pfizer is DR. ALBERT
While she tapped her head, Lydia
mined that when the mouth is covered

Board Certified Civil strained to hear her friend. “It’s your by a mask, the volume of the person between words and phrases. Avoid Hebrew means both wait and hope.” BOURLA, 59, a Sephardi Jew who
Trial Attorney was born, raised and trained (as a vet-
BRADENTON
hat. Hat on your head. It’s a nice match speaking is diminished by as much as having conversations in noisy venues While we wait for the pandemic
Florida Supreme Court with your mask.” 12 decibels. If Ruthie’s friend Lydia or where a television or loud music com- to dissipate and hope for a worldwide erinarian) in Greece. Pfizer’s chief sci-
Certified Mediator 5283 Office Park Boulevard, Bradenton, FL 34203 entist is a Swedish Jew, DR. MIKAEL
Ruthie responded, “Sure we wear any speaker is soft-spoken, the listener pete for the listener’s attention. Find cure, there are actions that we can take,
office 941.751.0555
DShapiro@GetMeJustice.com a quiet place to talk or, better yet, use no matter how small, that will build
your smartphone to take advantage of bridges of understanding between us.
texting. Writing your message will as- Speaking and listening will help us
sure that your listener has understood, stay connected, and although there
M. David Shapiro
M. Da vid S hapir o especially if the conversation includes will be challenges – just ask Lydia and
Ruthie – our sages tell us that patience
important dates, times and places.
Remember that body language and
• • B oar d C er tified Civil T rial A tt orney gestures play a large part in completing will see us through.
Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney
Rabbi Barbara Aiello served the Avi-
• • Florida Supreme Court the loop of understanding. Lean for- va Campus for Senior Life as resident
lorida Supr
our
t
F
eme C
tified Mediat
er
or
C
Certified Mediator ward, shrug your shoulders, point and rabbi for 10 years. She now lives and
shake your head so that your listener works in Italy where she is rabbi of
has every opportunity to comprehend Italy’s first Reconstructionist syna-
DS hapir o@G etM eJustic e .c om what you’ve said. gogue. Contact her at Rabbi@Rabbi
DShapiro@GetMeJustice.com
Helping the Injured Since 1990 Barbara.com.
If you are the listener, and pre-
Rabbi Barbara Aiello’s most popular
SARASOTA
columns are now published in her new
308 Cocoanut Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236
book, Aging Jewishly, available on
FED
M. David Shapiro toll free 1.800.954.4014 | office 941.954.4000 | fax 941.955.3632
Board Certified Civil Amazon. It makes a great gift!
Trial Attorney BRADENTON
Florida Supreme Court
we are
Certified Mediator 5283 Office Park Boulevard, Bradenton, FL 34203
office 941.751.0555
DShapiro@GetMeJustice.com
Helping the Injured Since 1990 Educating Jewish Minds

SARASOTA
308 Cocoanut Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236
M. David Shapiro toll free 1.800.954.4014 | office 941.954.4000 | fax 941.955.3632
Board Certified Civil our Federation is dedicated to educating Jewish minds — from Holocaust and civil rights
Trial Attorney BRADENTON Yeducation to Israeli history and advocacy through our Heller CRC, to reaching young children
Florida Supreme Court 5283 Office Park Boulevard, Bradenton, FL 34203 and their parents through PJ Library, to an array of adult education offerings. We also take great
pride in educating the interfaith community on Jewish history and antisemitism.
Certified Mediator
office 941.751.0555
DShapiro@GetMeJustice.com
jfedsrq.org • 941.371.4546