All Posts in "The Senior Scene"

SAVVY SENIOR

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

I’ve heard that excessive earwax can cause serious health problems in elderly seniors. What can you tell me about this?

Caregiving Daughter

Dear Caregiving,

It’s true! Excessive amounts of earwax can indeed cause problems in elderly seniors including hearing loss or ringing in your ears. Some people experience vertigo, which increases the risk of falling. And there’s also a correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline and depression.

Earwax – which is not really wax at all, but a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris – is normally produced by the body as a way to clean and protect the ears. In most people, the self-cleaning process works fine. But in others, including more than 30 percent of elderly people, the wax collects to the point where it can completely block or impact the ear canal.

Those that are most affected are elderly seniors, especially those living in nursing homes or assisted living centers that provide substandard hygiene. And those highest at risk are hearing-aid users because the devices push wax down into the canal.

Earwax Removal

Usually, earwax moves up and out on its own so the best way to control it is to leave it alone. But that advice can backfire for those who accumulate excessive amounts of earwax.

The symptoms of an earwax problem can include an earache, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, an ear infection, ear itchiness, or cough due to pressure from the blockage stimulating a nerve in the ear.

If you or your elderly loved one’s experience any of these symptoms, try using a softening agent to help the wax leave the ear or to remove it more easily.

If you prefer the natural route, try baby oil or mineral oil. Using an eyedropper, apply a drop or two into your ear, tilting your head so that the opening of the ear is pointing up toward the ceiling. Stay in that position for a minute or two to let the fluid flow down to the waxy buildup. Then tilt your head in the opposite direction to let the fluid and wax drain.

Or try an over-the-counter earwax removal solution or kit, which are sold in most pharmacies. Solutions may contain oil or hydrogen peroxide, and some kits include a bulb syringe that you squeeze to flush your ear with warm water, if needed.

You may need to repeat this wax-softening and irrigation procedure several times before getting rid of the excess earwax. If, however, the symptoms don’t improve after a few treatments, you need to see an audiologist or ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to have the wax removed.

Earwax removal is one of the most common ENT procedures performed. They have a variety of tools that can remove hard, stubborn earwax.

It might be tempting to poke a cotton swab, bobby pin, pencil or finger into your ear to get the gunk out, but don’t go digging. Yes, it’ll remove some of the wax, but it may also push the rest deeper into the ear canal and increase your risk of injuring your eardrum and making the problem worse.

Send your questions for Jim Miller to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or at SavvySenior.org. Miller is a contributor to the NBC television “Today” show.

The Senior Scene by — June 18, 2025 in Health & Fitness
A cookbook for the heart

Heart disease is the number 1 killer in the United States. With that in mind, a plant-based, low-sodium, low-fat, oil-free diet, combined with regular exercise, not only reduces the risk of heart disease, but is also crucial for cardiac recovery.
Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka and Hari Pulapaka, a professional chef, blend medical knowledge with culinary expertise in “The Heart Healthy Plant-Based Cookbook.” Its recipes are engineered to support heart health and overall well-being, offering meals so flavorful, whoever tries them quite possibly won’t believe they’re good for them, the authors promise.
The pages contain more than 100 easy, oil-free and salt-free recipes, making a useful ticket to preventing and reversing heart disease while tantalizing taste buds.
The book isi published by Hatherleigh Press and available wherever books are sold, according to distributor Penguin Random House.

The Senior Scene by — June 10, 2025 in Food, People
What to know about cosmetic dentistry

(Pictured: Clear aligners gradually move existing teeth into their ideal position.)

By Michelle Jorgensen

For many adults in the boomer generation, the rise of cosmetic dentistry has offered what seems like a quick fix to aging smiles—porcelain veneers that promise straight, white teeth in just a few appointments. But beneath that perfect surface, there can be hidden costs to your long-term health.

Before you commit to veneers, it’s important to know the full picture—because beauty doesn’t have to come at the expense of your wellness.

Veneers may look stunning, but they require permanently reshaping the teeth underneath. This process often involves removing a layer of enamel, which can leave teeth more sensitive, prone to decay, and less structurally sound. Veneers also don’t last forever—they need replacement every 10 to 15 years, sometimes sooner, and repeated replacements can further weaken natural teeth.

But beyond the tooth itself, there’s a bigger concern, especially for aging adults. Many boomers had teeth removed for braces as teens to “make room.” But what we didn’t know back then was that pulling teeth and shrinking the dental arch can actually close off your airway. That may contribute to mouth breathing, snoring, or even sleep apnea later in life.

Sleep-disordered breathing isn’t just about a poor night’s rest—it’s a serious health risk. People who don’t get enough oxygen while sleeping are at significantly greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, cognitive decline, and more. In fact, research shows that sleep apnea can reduce life expectancy by up to 20 percent.

If veneers are placed on top of teeth that are already in a compromised position—too far back, too narrow, too crowded—the result might look nice in the mirror but could worsen breathing at night. That’s a price no one should have to pay for a prettier smile.

Safer path to a better smile

Here’s a better approach: Start with air. Then think aesthetics. Instead of filing down healthy teeth, we can use clear aligners like Invisalign to gradually move teeth into their ideal position—not just for looks, but for airflow, comfort, and long-term function.

If you’ve had teeth removed in the past, aligners can help reopen space. And if teeth are missing, they should be replaced—with ceramic implants preferably—to fully support the bite and facial structure. Once everything is in the right place, whitening treatments or cosmetic restorations (like conservative veneers or bonding) can brighten and perfect the smile without compromising health. Often, just straightening the teeth brings dramatic cosmetic improvements. Crowded, worn, or tilted teeth look more youthful and harmonious when aligned properly. And bonus: You can breathe better, sleep better, and feel better, too.

Cosmetic dentistry doesn’t have to be a choice between looking good and feeling well. When we prioritize function first—airway, alignment, and oral health—beauty naturally follows. So before you veneer, consider a plan that supports your total health. The best smile is one that doesn’t just look good, it helps you live longer and feel amazing, too.

Dr. Michelle Jorgensen is a dentist, author of “Living Well with Dr. Michelle” (livingwellwithdrmichelle.com), and founder of Total Care Dental and Wellness in Utah.

The Senior Scene by — June 10, 2025 in Health & Fitness

After more than 30 years as a source of information and community connections for older adults, Senior Media Services, the program that publishes Senior Scene and Where to Turn, will close effective June 30. This edition of Senior Scene is the last one, and there will be no more Where to Turn beyond the current 2024-25 edition. Our website, seniorscene.org, also is ending.

The difficult decision to close the program was made by Lutheran Community Services Northwest, the non-profit social services agency that includes Senior Media. The decision is due to challenges of maintaining long-term financial viability of the program and its two publications. Their popularity and the demand for them have remained high, but the financial headwinds are just too strong to continue.

The monthly Senior Scene, focused on readers 55 and older, began 32 years ago and has been informing about 26,000 readers each month in Pierce County and King County with news and features. Where to Turn, an annual directory of community resources for older adults and their families, began 28 years ago in Pierce County. Separate annual editions for King County and Kitsap County were added in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Combined, the three Where to Turn editions are used by an estimated 100,000 people each year.

Giving older adults easy access to information to help them lead healthy, informed and meaningful lives (nurturing mind, body and soul, as we liked to call it) has been our mission since the 1990s. We are eternally grateful for the loyal support we’ve received along the way from the people and organizations who made this all possible: Advertisers, readers, the 722 locations where Senior Scene and Where to Turn were distributed, and our volunteers who drove hundreds of miles each month to deliver Senior Scene to many of those locations and helped in many other ways.

It has been our great privilege to be part of the communities we’ve served. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Take care.

Pat Jenkins, Senior Media program manager and editor

The Senior Scene by — June 10, 2025 in Spotlight