Deaf Connect has launched its Ageing Well program for Deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing seniors in Victora due to the growing needs of Deaf seniors.
The organisation said its comprehensive Auslan-delivered Home Care Package under the My Aged Care program was now available for Deaf seniors in Victoria.
Deaf Connect’s Ageing Well Service is also offered in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia. The program is for Deaf Australians eligible for the My Aged Care Home Care Package who are aged 65 and over (or 50 and over for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people).
In late 2023, Deaf Connect started an extensive consultation process with the Victorian Deaf community through which their interest in the program was made clear. It said the expressions of interest for services throughout the process highlighted the demand for home care packages to meet increasing care needs.
Deaf Connect general manager for Ageing Well Dr Leena Vuorinen said that for seniors with growing support requirements, consolidating all services under one home care provider would simplify care access in their daily lives.
“Ageing Well is an approved provider of in-home care for seniors, funded under the Federal Government’s Home Care Package program,” Dr Vuorinen said. “The program offers a tailored package of services for a wide range of needs, from personal care, daily activities, and social connections, to home safety and maintenance.
“This is particularly relevant to Deaf seniors who expect their care needs to change over time.”
She said the major driver for Ageing Well was to provide access to home care that celebrated Deaf identity and valued client autonomy. “The Home Care Program is provided directly in Auslan with an understanding of Deaf culture, providing compassionate care and empowering clients to feel valued and understood,” she added.
Deaf Connect chief services officer, Mr Brent Phillips, said the program fulfilled the need for higher-level care in Victoria, enabling Deaf seniors to maintain their independence and connection to the Deaf community.
“We’ve worked closely with Deaf Victorians to meet their increasing needs and deliver tailored care in their first language. We want to make sure that seniors can stay in their homes for longer,” he said.
“Our commitment is to ensure that every Deaf senior can age with dignity and remain connected to their language, identity, and community. This way, we can promote their independence, nurture their social connections, and ensure they sustain a high quality of life.
“From understanding the available options to undergoing assessment for a support package, Deaf Connect guides community members through government processes that are often not tailored to their access needs.”
Phillips said families could be confident that their loved ones were receiving care from a provider that understood their identity, language and community.
The launch on 10 October 2024 during seniors’ month was at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Collingwood campus.
Deaf Connect is the largest whole-of-life service provider and social impact organisation for Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing Australians. It is the largest employer of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Australia, a registered provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme and an approved provider of in-home care for seniors.
It is also the country’s largest Auslan interpreting agency and provides training in sign language.
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