Fill in the Gaps > Too many older people who are deafblind ... - Sense

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3 > Working with older deafblind peopleWritten informationAll information and correspondence that your team providesshould be available in accessible formats. For example,appointment letters, assessments, care plans, information aboutservices, etc. should be available in large print, braille, tape or disk.Many visually impaired people have enough vision to read printedinformation if it is large and bold. No single size is suitable foreveryone, but most people prefer their large print in the range of16 to 22 point. Arial is an example of a clear font. You can wordprocess simple large print documents yourself.If a person requires information in braille, audio tape or diskformats, you can use any number of transcription services.If in doubt, contact your local sensory team or other specialistsensory agencies such as Sense, Deafblind UK or RNIB.This is anexample ofArial 18 pointin bold.Specialist servicesThis is a brief overview of theservices that may be availablefor older deafblind peoplevia your sensory impairmentteam (or similar):• Specialist assessment andcare planning – assessingthe effects of hearing andvision difficulties and theirimpact on maintainingindependence.• Advice, information andadvocacy – accessinghealth and social services,welfare rights, nationaldeafblind organisations,local agencies.• Equipment – assessmentand provision of equipmentto assist with everydayactivities: e.g. easy-to-seeamplified phones; largescreen textphones; personalTV listeners; loop systems;tactile markers; vibratingpager systems for doorbell,telephone or smoke alarmalerting.• Mobility training – includingadvice on making the homesafer to move around in ortraining in travelling outdoorsindependently and safely.• Communication – includingsupport to developappropriate communicationskills for both the deafblindperson themselves andfamily members or carersand information about usinginterpreters.• Other skills training –including safety in the kitchenand home environment.• One-to-one support – e.g.communicator-guide services.Communicator-guides aretrained to help deafblindpeople with communicationand mobility to enabletheir involvement in everyday activities and relieveisolation. The tasks carriedout will vary dependingon the individual deafblindperson and their needs,but may include: attendingappointments; escortingto the shops; readingcorrespondence; takingexercise; leisure activities.This service is designedto complement otherservices (e.g. Home Care)and should not be used toreplace it.i20
What to dowhen you’veread this…1. Discuss the needs of older deafblind people atone of your team meetings. Think about some ofthese questions:• Do we recognise that combined hearing and vision lossinteract to create a separate and unique disability?• Do we know of local older deafblind people? How many arewe aware of?• How can we develop our skills in identifying deafblindpeople? What training is available? Who should be trained?Could one team member be appointed as a ‘sensorychampion’?• When assessing older people, do we think about thepossibility of dual sensory loss and its effects?• When assessing older people, do we adapt sufficiently totheir communication needs? Do we know how to accessinterpreters or other communication support if necessary?• Is our assessment information accessible to users and carerswho have dual sensory loss?• How can we use the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 topromote the interests of older deafblind people?• What services are provided locally for older deafblind peoplevia statutory or voluntary agencies?• Do we know when and where to refer on for specialistassessment?2. Find out how to contact your local sensory teamand write their phone number here:3. Consider inviting a specialist from the sensoryteam to your team meeting to discuss howyou can work together effectively with olderdeafblind people.4. Consider organising an event during DeafblindAwareness Week.21
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Page 26 and 27: 4 > ResourcesReferences:Butler, S J
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Fill in the Gaps > Too many older people who are deafblind ... - Sense

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