November, 2020 \u2013 Access HEARS, Inc., a social enterprise focused on connecting individuals with hearing loss to the solutions they need to age well, has launched the Health Equity Initiative to reach individuals and communities who often go unserved by hearing care. Hearing loss affects nearly two-thirds of adults 70 years and older in the United States, of which 23 million go untreated. While many barriers to traditional hearing care exist, including cost, mobility, and health literacy, disparities also exist based on socioeconomic status and race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In September 2020, Access HEARS launched the Health Equity Initiative, an effort to provide subsidized over-the-counter listening devices to two hundred low-income Black older adults in Baltimore City. In partnership with Z-HAP, a local non-profit focused on healthy aging for older adults, the Health Equity Initiative engages local communities through hearing care education, and utilizes Z-HAP\u2019s strong connections to communities across Baltimore. While the program primarily addresses disparities in hearing care, its purpose stems from a mission to champion social justice and health equity, and to empower older adults in the Black community with the tools they need to remain engaged and active in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSocial justice and health equity have always been a core part of Access HEARS and our mission to serve the most vulnerable,\u201d said Josiah Yiu, Chief Operating Officer at Access HEARS. \u201cWe believe that the Health Equity Initiative is a small but important part of Baltimore\u2019s efforts to further health equity for the Black community, and are grateful for organizations like Z-HAP who have paved the way for that possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In support of these efforts, Access HEARS finished as runner-up for the 2020 Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award through the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute. The award, established in honor of Johns Hopkins cancer patient Henrietta Lacks, honors outstanding community-university partnerships in Baltimore City each year. All proceeds from the award will be used to subsidize over-the-counter hearing devices for low-income Black older adults in Baltimore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are honored to have been chosen as runner up for this year\u2019s Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award,\u201d stated Khoi Le, Executive Director of Access HEARS. \u201cWe would like to thank the Urban Health Institute for their dedication to Baltimore City, and for their support of our mission to further hearing care equity. Without the generosity from such like-minded organizations, we would not be able to continue serving older adults with hearing loss in Baltimore and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n