Photo of Patti Hays with her mother.
It is often said that disability is the only minority group that anyone can join at any time. Some join at birth while others join as a result of an accident or injury. Likely, if we are lucky to live long enough, we may experience some aspect of disability because of the aging process.
I got to experience this firsthand with my mother.
As a reminder, disability is any condition of the body or mind that results in a limitation with some major life activity or some restriction with full community participation. Full community engagement can be limited with aging, but does that meet the definition of a disability and is it protected by ADA? I had to ask myself this question earlier this summer as my sisters and I moved our healthy 95-year-old mother from her prior home of 35 years to an independent living community.
My mom has long been gradually losing her hearing. Hearing aids have helped but things were different with this relocation. We quickly learned that when every meal is provided in a room with high ceilings, tiled floors, and dozens of others engaged in conversations, hearing aids may not be enough. The gentle knock of a staff member on the door wasn’t garnering her attention. More and more available social activities were being shared in large community rooms rather than in her smaller living room.
Her environment changed and our routine accommodations did not meet the need to facilitate full participation in her community. We looked at each other and asked what we needed to do and what could we ask of the facility management.
By reaching out to the Great Lakes ADA Center, we were able to get our questions answered.
FIRST: Mom had to advocate for herself. She needed to identify that she had limitations with her hearing and that she needed people to speak up and slow down. Almost 2/3 of adults over 70 have some hearing loss and for the person over 90, that number is almost 100%. We were assuming that all staff knew there was a high likelihood that she was hard of hearing and that they should anticipate her needs. We were wrong.
SECOND: Federal Housing Administration rules cover rights of residents, including senior apartments. In this scenario, in light that she was receiving some “caregiving” with shared meals and available on-site therapies, the community needed to comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations.
THIRD: Some things we had to do ourselves. None of the apartments had doorbells, so it was up to us to install one. She still needs to ask staff to ring the doorbell rather than knock on the door. New hearing aids provided Bluetooth technology that linked to her television and smart phone.
FOURTH: ADA does speak to “assistive listening systems” (ALS) in assembly areas. Wherever audible communication is integral to the use of the space, ALS should be provided. We are still working on this to educate the management of her building complex about a hearing loop system.
Mom is doing a bit better. Mealtimes can be a challenge for her to fully participate in conversations in a busy dining room. Some tables are better than others and she is learning that. She has been advocating more for herself. It isn’t complaining to ask for what is needed.
We are encouraging activities that increase her socialization. We know prolonged social isolation can be a health risk equal to smoking half of a pack of cigarettes a day. It increases the risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke, and more chronic diseases. Everyone benefits when there is a desired level of community engagement. These lessons are true for all of us both now and as we age.
A special thanks to the experts at the Great Lakes ADA Center. They are there for all of us to use when understanding our rights in times of disability whether short-lived, enduring or progressive. If you are interested in learning more, start with their website www.adagreatlakes.org and with specific questions, give them a call at 800.848.4232. There is more we can all learn and share to help us ensure full community participation for all.