Good and equal care for elderly deaf people

The lecture series JU LIVE highlights current research at Jönköping University. On 21 March, Yashar Mahmud, postdoctoral fellow at the School of Health and Welfare at Jönköping University, presented together with Åsa Gustavsson, project manager at Jönköpings Läns Dövas och Teckenspråkigas förbund, about a unique project that improves care for elderly deaf people.

Difficulties in communicating and a lack of trust in society means that many elderly deaf people do not receive the care they need. It can also result in a lonely old age. The project Movadot wants to prevent this. Movadot stands for “Mobile care team for elderly deaf people in Jönköping County” and involves deaf assistant nurses, who know sign language, that visit elderly deaf people who have home care or live in a retirement home. From the start, researchers from the School of Health and Welfare have followed the project and interviewed the elderly, Movadot staff, and regular staff.

One of the assistant nurses working in the project was in the audience at JU LIVE.

"I have seen a big difference in the users, who are now more active. We become a link between them and the hearing staff where previously there were gaps in communication. It feels so good to be part of this journey," says Christin Ingesson.

Future solution for more groups in society

Åsa Gustavsson says that many have a tough background and find it difficult to trust the hearing staff. Misunderstandings are common. For example, one person did not want the staff to wear a face mask because the deaf person could neither see facial expressions nor read lips. This came to light after a visit by Movadot.

During the lecture, Yashar Mahmud said that the research confirms the isolation felt by the deaf people, they are more vulnerable and there is also a lack of security in the form of wrong medication. To achieve better care, co-creation and dialogue are essential, and here Movadot's mobile working method proves to be a good solution. A solution that could also be applied to more minority groups in society. It can be financially challenging for individual municipalities to pay for staff with certain skills, therefore this project means that it they can join together and work across municipal boundaries.

"We are happy and positive about this project. In the future, this can be a security for us," say visitors Zinita and Lars-Erik Carlsson, who are both deaf.