KIM: The NAD partnered with Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) for the 2018-2020 priority and established a taskforce focusing on senior issues. The taskforce decided on three important areas. First, resources for deaf seniors that includes information about senior issues, housing, services, and senior communities. Second, housing-related resources with information on assisted living, nursing, memory care, and independent living. And finally, third, develop three different checklists. One checklist would keep information about yourself such as whether or not you have a will, your financial information, health care information, and so on. Another checklist would list different accessibility features to look for when looking for a senior care facility or nursing home, the checklist would help you make a well-informed decision. And the last checklist would list different tasks that caregivers would do to help you decide whether or not you need a caregiver. During the last two years, the taskforce completed a survey, asking deaf seniors where they lived, how they decided to live there, and what they think about their quality of life. We also developed three checklists. We met with many different groups who serve seniors, take care of seniors, nursing assistants, and deaf and hard of hearing facilities to gather information on what issues deaf seniors face. We also streamlined our senior resources and in that process, we realized the need for more resources in the caregiving profession. The taskforce also worked with the Center for Deaf Health Equity at Gallaudet University focusing on women’s health and research on caregivers who work with people with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia.
DONALDA: Hello, my name is Donalda Ammons and I would like to share with you two stories I had experienced about two deaf seniors. My first story is about a deaf elderly man whom I knew for many years. One day, he appeared confused and more incoherent than ever. I tried asking him how he was but I couldn’t make sense out of what he told me. I asked him about his medications and he said nothing changed, his meds and dosage was the same. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity to check every medical prescription bottle he had. I then recognized two bottles with two different names but were actually the same. One bottle was a brand prescription while the other was generic. He was taking each pill daily. He had been taking the brand meds for a while and when it was time for a refill, the doctor prescribed him with the brand name but the pharmacist refilled it with a generic prescription, with a different name. These two medications were in fact the same but have different names — he thought he was taking new meds. He received a generic medication because his health insurance company would only pay for that. However, the pharmacist and his doctor failed to let him know of the change. That deaf man did not know he was actually taking double doses which led him to be incoherent and confused. This is not okay. The second story is about a deaf elderly woman who lived in a nursing home. She was very close to expiring during the COVID-19 pandemic but she did not die from the virus. However, because of COVID-19, families and friends were not allowed to visit their loved ones in the nursing home. The family was concerned how they’ll be able to spend time with her during her final hours of her life. They contacted the nursing home and were assured she would not die alone. The family didn’t understand how that could be and decided to visit her through the window. They were appalled to find a nurse stroking the elderly deaf woman while talking to her without signing. Of course the deaf elderly woman understood nothing. The family felt terrible and immediately called the nursing home to explain that situation was not okay. The facility director thought at least the elderly deaf woman wouldn’t die alone. The family explained that ASL was necessary during the final hours. After much explanation and discussion, the family was approved to send someone to visit. The deaf daughter was given Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and was able to see her mother. They hugged and the deaf daughter was able to sign with her. It was clear the deaf mother understood her and had her last breath at ease. She did not die alone because her deaf daughter was there, signing with her. Depriving deaf seniors of their language, being alone, during their final hours is not okay.
NANCY: We are now recommending to the COR to continue supporting the NAD-DSA Task Force. We share several recommendations. First, continue this priority for the next two years with its new name, “Eliminating Barriers to Quality Care of Deaf Seniors.” The current taskforce discovered many barriers so our following recommendations will help address these issues. One recommendation is to have the NAD and DSA to encourage a relationship between State Associations and local Deaf Senior groups. Another recommendation is to ensure that the U.S. Administration on Aging and State Departments follow ADA guidelines for all types of senior care at the city, county, state, and federal levels. Another recommendation is that Deaf senior groups work with State Associations and State Commissions to address important research findings. Another recommendation is to take advantage of current technology, such as webinars on specific issues that Deaf seniors face in preparing for the future such as healthcare and information on different facilities. Another recommendation is to develop a resource of attorneys who are experts in Elder Law. Any attorney can’t help with elderly related legal issues because attorneys who are experts in Elder Law know the latest laws and regulations. They are also familiar with the ADA. This resource will help deaf seniors be able to finalize their will, for instance. Another recommendation is to develop a directory of health care professionals who have caregiving experience. Such professionals may be deaf or CODAs, have experience in providing care to deaf seniors, and may be certified. Right now, deaf seniors don’t know who are certified caregivers — the directory will solve that gap. And finally, our last recommendation is to develop training programs for deaf and hard of hearing people, CODAs, and interpreters who are interested in the caregiver profession. Perhaps we need to find funding first to establish such training programs or partner with a college or university to create a studies program. This is important because we need quality care during our final years.