Lubbock Area United Way supports Elderly Outreach Program

An elderly client, Mrs. L., recently called Catholic Charities for assistance.  In normal circumstances, she is able to manage her expenses.  However, when there is a big expense, like many elderly on a fixed income, she struggles. 

Two years ago, Mrs. L. was enrolled in the Elderly Outreach Program for dental assistance.  Catholic Charities was able to provide dental services that improved her ability to eat and communicate, not to mention, her self-esteem.

Once again in 2021, Mrs. L. reached out to Catholic Charities, seeking help this time in getting hearing aids. Not only had her hearing deteriorated, so had the quality of her life.  She had significant difficulty communicating with others, both on the phone and in person.  Mrs. L. had always been a very social and active person, but due to her hearing loss, she struggled to even visit with family members and friends -- leading her to become isolated and lonely.    

A member of the Catholic Charities staff added Mrs. L. to the hearing aid waiting list.  In November 2021, she completed the health questionnaire required by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.  The TTUHSC Speech and Hearing Department conducted a hearing test and diagnosed her with profound hearing loss.   

TTUHSC Speech and Hearing determined the equipment she would need and fitted her with new hearing aids.  Now Mrs. L. can hear much better on the phone and is able to communicate much more clearly with others.  Due to severity of her hearing loss, Mrs. L.’s hearing aids, would not have been an item she could afford on a fixed income.   Catholic Charities is grateful for partnerships with organizations such as Lubbock Area United Way and TTUHSC that help serve one of the most often forgotten, and vulnerable groups in our community – the low-income elderly.