Many Deaf and Hard of hearing people, who are either born with no hearing or are late deafened, face barriers of communication in nursing homes. Staff do not know sign language. People prefer to stay at home where the environment is designed for them to enjoy, and in the community where other deaf people live.

Deaf people want the choice to be with people who can communicate with them in their preferred language or form of communication so they will enjoy their senior years with good friends.

They also want senior service providers who know sign language, or their preferred communication, to help them get around and visit their friends and feel safe going back home. Not someone who basically sits with them and talks with their pagers, but someone to play games with them and tell them stories of their life in sign language. They want to know that the person understands them.

The Community Choice Act (HR 1670 / S 683), now pending before Congress, would give deaf and hard of hearing people (and all seniors and disabled people) choices about the place they live and services to meet the needs in their life, and not be isolated in nursing homes. In their last years, do not let deaf people die feeling lonely, but rather knowing they had communication and love.