Unity Health System

Rochester and Monroe County, NY, have some 12,000–15,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing residents, an estimated 600 of whom are elderly. This grant to Unity Health System’s home/community-based services supported training deaf individuals fluent in sign language to become home health aides to serve elderly deaf people living in Rochester and Monroe County.

Providing home care services to frail elders who are deaf is a challenge when workers cannot communicate readily with clients. This grant to Unity Health System’s home/community-based services supported training deaf individuals fluent in sign language to become home health aides to serve elderly deaf people living in Rochester and Monroe County. Recruiting and training caregivers who know sign language expands access to long-term care services for deaf individuals requiring assistance.

The Deaf Community Home Health Aide Program gave the estimated 600 deaf elderly in the county access to care that they otherwise might not have. The National Center for Deaf Health Research is evaluating this effort, which can be supported by insurance payments once it is fully operational.

Unity Health System’s Home and Community-Based Services division is the largest provider of health care services for seniors in Monroe County. It provides Licensed Home Care services to approximately 230 clients.