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My 90 yr. old father in law can only communicate in American sign language. My husband is an only child. My father-in-law lives in an apartment a couple miles away. He has severe arthritis, but can get up and down from his lift chair to go to the bathroom using a walker. He has an electric wheelchair which he uses for major outings. He watches television all day long and my husband has to make his meals, put them in his freezer where my FIL can put them in a microwave. We tried meals on wheels, but their meals come in aluminium containers which can't go in a microwave, also they leave it on the floor where he can't bend down to get it ( can't have a table in hallway). Anyway. We can't go away too far or too long because my husband is the only one who can communicate with him. My question is: would a nursing home provide a translator without cost? He would qualify for Medicaid.

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Is there an adult medical day care that he could attend during the week. That might be a good start. Also there are programs that provide in home help if he qualifies for Medicaid. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or Bureau of Senior Services, they will be able to give you info on all the options available including assisted living facility info. Any caregiver worth their salt will learn to do some sign language, if your FIL reads they can also communicate through writing. A nursing home must provide a translator if that is the only language he can communicate in. The AAA can give you info on the long term care ombudsman program, the ombudsman is an advocate for those residing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The ombudsman is a great resource. Don't hesitate to contact your local ombudsman.
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Thank you. He reads very little and can not write because of his arthritis. We did find a great Assisted living place for him, but he didn't like it for crazy reasons and he is happy having his son do things for him. He does go to a place 2x a month to see other much younger senior deaf friends, but my husband have to take him and pick him up with my FIL special wheelchair car. I did not know about "ombudsman". Thank you for that information. I guess I needed a place to post my special problem, which I can't do anything about, only give support and some advice to my husband.
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If he was a veteran call the VA
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Not a VET, been dead since he was a baby. Only American sign language, and he doesn't read lips or talk out loud. Thanks anyway.
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