Origins of Deaf Seniors of America
In 1992, the first national conference for deaf senior citizens took place in Texas. This conference produced the idea of a national organization for deaf senior citizens. At the next national conference in 1994, the National Association of Deaf Senior Citizens, the predecessor to Deaf Seniors of America (DSA), was established. Every two years, DSA holds national conferences in selected cities across America.Membership in Deaf Seniors of America
Robert Cook, president of Deaf Seniors of America, told About.com that anyone who has hearing loss (regardless of severity) is welcome to join DSA. In addition, hearing people are welcome to join as associate members of DSA. Cook discussed Deaf Seniors of America's efforts in the area of residential housing for deaf senior citizens. DSA has an Estate/Residential Planning for the Elderly Deaf task force that is working on the issue. This task force was set up as a result of the 2007 DSA Conference, at which there was a motion to set up a task force to research nursing homes for deaf senior citizens, with the goal of improving the quality of life for deaf nursing home residents.About.com: What is your opinion of presently available residential options for deaf senior citizens?
Cook: There are few deaf residential options in America. [There] are very limited choices of preferences to meet deaf seniors' lifestyles.
About.com: What is Estate/Residential Planning for the Elderly Deaf Task Force?
Cook: With [the] Task Force's assistance, we hope to train hearing people to learn sign language and understand deaf culture, especially [when] working with deaf people living at residential facilities.
The purpose of the task force is:
- To gather and research all existing information on deaf senior citizens living in their residential places throughout America.
- To compile all information into several facility categories that meet deaf senior citizens' needs.
- To ensure every deaf senior citizens have a right to live in a proper facility with reasonable accessibility.
- To educate every deaf senior citizen by qualified attorney about will preparation, health proxy, living will, living trust, certain power of attorney and estate planning.
- To provide information about legal issues related to deaf senior citizen's needs by qualified attorney.
- To share information about several insurance issues for the best interest to deaf senior citizen's needs by qualified insurance executive who has knowledge in that area.
About.com: What has been accomplished by the Task Force so far?
Cook: Phase 1 is nearly completed in collecting all data/information related to deaf nursing facilities in America.
From there, we are planning to set up a national independent [clearinghouse] for all existing deaf nursing facilities, retirement homes, affordable housing units and living assisted centers; then we are providing lectures, seminars and workshops and to make some proposals for the next 2009 DSA conference in Las Vegas.
About.com: Is DSA doing anything to help bridge the gap between today's deaf seniors and the younger, cochlear implant generation?
Cook: Yes, we [provide] seminars related to deaf culture, deaf history, teach American Sign Language (ASL), and set up exhibit booths at deaf expos, libraries, colleges, universities, and annual Deaf Awareness month at various places all over the country.
About.com: You have a quarterly newsletter, New Horizons. What kind of information is in that newsletter?
Cook: New Horizons covers the activities of DSA and their board meetings as well as DSA's President and Treasurer's reports, articles related to deafness and aging sent in by members, financial advice by deaf financial consultants, newsworthy and accomplishments of deaf seniors in every day's life.
Related article on About.com: Deaf Senior Citizens
