Rise has registered for a new free sign language interpreting service.
From June 2020, all aged care assessment and delivery services now have access to free sign language and interpreting services to support older Australians who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing to access or engage with Australian Government funded aged care services.
This week I had the absolute pleasure of utilising the Interpreter Service through Auslan Connections to assist me with a meeting with a new client and her family and I wanted to share this story.
The client who is hearing impaired and has dementia was reluctant to have any services put into place. After communicating with her family, we booked a time to meet and discuss how Rise could assist her and an interpreter was requested to be at this meeting.
The meeting took place in the clients home with a member of her family and another support person, all of whom are deaf and communicate via Auslan sign language. The interpreter was able to meet with us in person and interpret and facilitate the conversation between the four of us. The interpreter was fantastic and such a great support to all involved!
Together we were able to establish support for the client for shopping and transport within her local community and to support her to continue to meet her friends at the deaf society. This was a great outcome for the client. It was a privilege to have been a part of this meeting, assisting the client and her family.
If you have any Aged Care clients who would benefit from communicating via Auslan I encourage you to access this great FREE service which is available to assist with supporting older Australians who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing to access or engage with aged care service providers, Contact details are below:
Auslan Connections
call centre: 1300 010 877
email:
interpreter.bookings@deafservices.org.au
facsimile: 07 3892 8511
SMS: 0407 647 591
Please note that it is strongly advised that, when possible, bookings be made well in advance to ensure the availability of an interpreter. Once booked please advise funding@risenetwork.com.au so all booking and confirmation information can be forwarded.
Sarah Haggas
Aged Care Coordinator