Deaf Senior Citizens

For the Golden Years

By Jamie Berke, About.com

Updated: June 18, 2008

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As the baby boomers age, one segment of the deaf community that is going to grow - bolstered by both the natural aging of deaf baby boomers and the baby boomers who lose hearing with age. This large population is going to need specialized nursing homes, organizations, retirement communities, and for some, specialized hospice services.

Organizations

The Deaf Seniors of America represents deaf senior citizens. This organization has conferences, and a discussion list for members. Many states have organizations also, such as such as the Bay Area Coalition of Deaf Senior Citizens in California.

The deaf senior population is also growing in other countries. For example, Ireland recently established an organization for deaf senior citizens. Australia has at least five deaf senior organizations.

Retirement Communities

A few retirement communities for the deaf already exist, and more are being built. There is even an organization, Deaf Senior Housing, seeking to develop retirement communities for the deaf. Known communities that exist are:

• California Home for the Adult Deaf in Arcadia, California
• New England Homes for the Deaf in Danvers, Massachusetts, an assisted living facility
• Spring Haven Apartments, in Cave Spring, Georgia (a Deaf Senior Housing community)
• Valley View Assisted Living for the Deaf (Elwyn) in Elwyn, Pennsylvania
• Water Tower View apartments for deaf senior citizens in Greenfield, Wisconsin

Retirement communities that are being built (or that people hope to build) as of this writing:

• Apache ASL Trails (Tempe, Arizona - first phase expected to open in 2009)
• In Canada, a deaf senior community is under development in Barrie, Ontario, with the support of the Ontario Mission of the Deaf and the Canadian Hearing Society. This community's development is reportedly stalled by legal issues, however.
• In St. Augustine, Florida, the Summerset Village Apartments are being built near the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. (Another Deaf Senior Housing community)

For awhile, there was an attempt to build a community called Wyndholme Village in the Baltimore, Maryland region, but for various reasons it failed. There was also a report earlier that the Del Webb corporation would develop a retirement community for the deaf in Stafford, Virginia, but there is no information about it on the Del Webb corporation website.

Nursing Homes

Likewise, only a few specialized nursing homes for the deaf exist. A few that are known to exist:

• New England Homes for the Deaf has a nursing home in Danvers, Massachusetts.
• Columbus Colony, a nursing home in Westerly, Ohio.
• Granbury Care Center, a a long term care facility in Granbury, Texas.

Both the retirement communities and the nursing homes offer all the services and amenities that deaf people expect and use: fully accessible housing, speech therapy, staff members who sign, interpreters, and activities geared towards a deaf community.

Hospice Services

Information to Go has a listing of clinics and special services, including hospice services. Some of the deaf senior retirement communities and nursing homes also offer hospice services.