Deaf older adults’ experiences of support from a mobile old-age care team providing support in Swedish sign language
(2026) In BMC Geriatrics 26(1).- Abstract
Introduction: To address communication barriers, minimise social isolation, prevent psychosocial illness and increase the independence of Deaf older adults, a mobile care team consisting of Deaf assistant nurses using sign language was initiated and developed by a nongovernmental organisation in a region in southern Sweden. Aim: To describe Deaf older adults’ experiences receiving support from an NGO-initiated mobile old-age care team for Deaf and sign language-speaking older adults in Sweden. Methods: A series of 15 individual interviews with four Deaf older adults were analysed via content analysis. Results: Support from the mobile care team was appreciated, as illustrated by the following categories: support in everyday activities,... (More)
Introduction: To address communication barriers, minimise social isolation, prevent psychosocial illness and increase the independence of Deaf older adults, a mobile care team consisting of Deaf assistant nurses using sign language was initiated and developed by a nongovernmental organisation in a region in southern Sweden. Aim: To describe Deaf older adults’ experiences receiving support from an NGO-initiated mobile old-age care team for Deaf and sign language-speaking older adults in Sweden. Methods: A series of 15 individual interviews with four Deaf older adults were analysed via content analysis. Results: Support from the mobile care team was appreciated, as illustrated by the following categories: support in everyday activities, communication supported and enabled and support for psychosocial well-being. The care team facilitated communication using sign language. For example, they enabled in-depth communication and information sharing and supported older adults in expressing opinions and thoughts to authorities and regular care staff. Increased communication supported psychosocial well-being, independence, and feelings of safety. Conclusion: A sign language mobile care team that is well familiar with Deafness as a culture rather than a hearing disability is highly valued by Deaf older adults in need of home or residential care later in life. It also shows that access to a sign language mobile care team leads to increased psychological wellbeing and happiness among Deaf older adults, as well as to their increased participation in decision-making concerning various aspects of their lives.
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- author
- Karlsson, Elin ; Mahmud, Yashar ; Andersson, Susanne ; Jonsson, Linda ; Gustavsson, Åsa ; Kjellström, Sofia and Fristedt, Sofi LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Deaf, Gerontology, Intervention, Older adults, Psychosocial support
- in
- BMC Geriatrics
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 79
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105028274418
- pmid:41392245
- ISSN
- 1471-2318
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12877-025-06675-1
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 136b1a57-b0d7-48ec-a09d-be4150a50e9a
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-17 14:44:48
- date last changed
- 2026-02-18 03:00:04
@article{136b1a57-b0d7-48ec-a09d-be4150a50e9a,
abstract = {{<p>Introduction: To address communication barriers, minimise social isolation, prevent psychosocial illness and increase the independence of Deaf older adults, a mobile care team consisting of Deaf assistant nurses using sign language was initiated and developed by a nongovernmental organisation in a region in southern Sweden. Aim: To describe Deaf older adults’ experiences receiving support from an NGO-initiated mobile old-age care team for Deaf and sign language-speaking older adults in Sweden. Methods: A series of 15 individual interviews with four Deaf older adults were analysed via content analysis. Results: Support from the mobile care team was appreciated, as illustrated by the following categories: support in everyday activities, communication supported and enabled and support for psychosocial well-being. The care team facilitated communication using sign language. For example, they enabled in-depth communication and information sharing and supported older adults in expressing opinions and thoughts to authorities and regular care staff. Increased communication supported psychosocial well-being, independence, and feelings of safety. Conclusion: A sign language mobile care team that is well familiar with Deafness as a culture rather than a hearing disability is highly valued by Deaf older adults in need of home or residential care later in life. It also shows that access to a sign language mobile care team leads to increased psychological wellbeing and happiness among Deaf older adults, as well as to their increased participation in decision-making concerning various aspects of their lives.</p>}},
author = {{Karlsson, Elin and Mahmud, Yashar and Andersson, Susanne and Jonsson, Linda and Gustavsson, Åsa and Kjellström, Sofia and Fristedt, Sofi}},
issn = {{1471-2318}},
keywords = {{Deaf; Gerontology; Intervention; Older adults; Psychosocial support}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Geriatrics}},
title = {{Deaf older adults’ experiences of support from a mobile old-age care team providing support in Swedish sign language}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06675-1}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12877-025-06675-1}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2026}},
}