Sa nior Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller The Surprising Dangers of Earwax 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 aff ected 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 backfi re 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 fl uid fl ow down to the waxy buildup. Then tilt your head in the opposite direction to let the fl uid 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 fl ush 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 fi nger 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 senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 31, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 “I’m proud of the way that this budget responds to those needs, while also making sure Massachusetts can sustainably support the programs and services on which everyone in Massachusetts relies. We’re fully funding the Student Opportunity Act to make sure our K-12 schools have equitable access to the resources their students and educators need, growing local aid, boosting Chapter 90 funding to improve roads and bridges and creatively investing in our infrastructure.” The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance was quick to criticize the proposal. The group said the budget includes a plan allowing municipalities to raise taxes on meals and hotels through local option taxes, an idea soundly rejected last year; a $164 million tax hike by setting up a cap on the charitable deductions law approved by the voters in 2000; expansion of tobacco taxes to synthetic nicotine products; and extending the sales tax to candy. “She’s literally taking candy from a baby,” said alliance spokesperson Paul Craney. “Massachusetts residents already face some of the highest taxes in the nation, and this proposal exacerbates that burden. Taxpayers will have to spend $25 million more dollars on candy to just pay for this tax. This budget doubles down on the state’s addiction to higher taxes and spending at a time when residents are already feeling squeezed and leaving for more tax friendly states. The governor is taking a giant leap in the wrong direction. The governor has become so desperate for higher taxes that she’s even proposing caps on tax deductions for Massachusetts charities. This tax relief law was approved by the voters in 2000. If that isn’t cruel, I don’t know what is.” “This budget exemplifi es the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s disregard for fi scal responsibility,” said MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale. “Relying on one-time revenues while increasing spending is an unsustainable path, particularly given the unchecked fi nancial strain caused by the emergency assistance shelter program and ongoing uncertainty over monthly tax revenues. Instead of charting a path toward stability, this budget doubles down on reckless spending and higher taxes.” The budget now goes to the Page 19 House which will craft and approve its own version and then it moves to the Senate which will offer a different plan. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually hammer out a compromise version that will be approved by both branches and sent to Gov. Healey who has the power to veto any spending and any other items. The House and Senate can then choose to override any of the governor’s vetoes. HOLD DANGEROUS BON-CITIZENS FOR ICE INTERVENTION – Reps. Michael Soter (R-Bellingham) and Kenneth Sweezey (R-Pembroke) have fi led legislation they say will restore power to local and state law enforcement agencies by closing a loophole that prevents court offi cers and law enforcement officials from holding dangerous illegal non-citizens with ICE detainers beyond the time that the individBEACON | SEE PAGE 21 - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 (978) 744-1020 Docket No. ES25P0232EA Estate of: EDWARD SHANNON BOESEL Also known as: Edward Shannon Watts Boesel Date of Death: 08/29/2004 CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Liam Watts of Hudson, NH requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Liam Watts of Hudson, NH be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 03/03/2025. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court. Date: January 27, 2025 PAMELA A. CASEY O’BRIEN REGISTER OF PROBATE January 31, 2025
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