Ensuring Deaf people with dementia are supported Professor Alys Young & Emma Ferguson-Coleman University of Manchester

What you will know in 15 minutes’ time… Definitions of being Deaf What it means to live with dementia as a Deaf BSL user How you can support Deaf people living with dementia

Being Deaf Linguistic and cultural minority BSL is a recognised language in UK Prevalence of older Deaf population (Young, 2013)

Living with dementia as a Deaf BSL user Diagnosis pathway – what are the barriers? Support after diagnosis – where would a Deaf BSL user go? Maintaining everyday life – how is this achieved?

Communicating helps language, expression and well being Marginalisation is a risk, being forgotten, not attended to, not valued My family and friends will offer support as they know me If my carer cannot sign, how can my language, culture and well-being be supported? We are likely to have been marginalised all our lives, not seen, not valued, not attended to – what will change? My family might not use the same language as me My friends may not understand what dementia is My carers may not know me Living with dementia as a Deaf BSL user Living with dementia as a hearing person

Potential solutions for support Clear and visual communication Reducing marginalisation and maintaining the person’s independence When do I work with an interpreter? Culturally appropriate activities

Questions?

Contact Professor Alys Young Emma Ferguson-Coleman

Publications Young, A., Ferguson-Coleman, E. & Keady, J (2014). Understanding the Personhood of Deaf People with Dementia: Methodological Issues Ferguson-Coleman, E., Keady, J. & Young, A (2014). Dementia and the Deaf community: knowledge and service access. Aging Ment Health, 18(6), Young, A., Ferguson-Coleman, E. & Keady, J (2014). Understanding dementia: effective information access from the Deaf community's perspective. Young, A., Waterman, H. & Ferguson-Coleman, E (2014). Dementia Gateway: Sensory Loss and Dementia. loss-research.pdf Young, A (2014). Older Deaf People and Social Care care.pdf