Hearing Loss/Deafness Support Print Retirement Housing for Deaf Seniors By Jamie Berke facebook Jamie Berke is a deafness and hard of hearing expert. Learn about our editorial process Jamie Berke Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD on December 12, 2019 facebook linkedin Benjamin F. Asher, MD, FACS, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. For 30 years, he has worked at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic. Learn about our Medical Review Board Benjamin F. Asher, MD Updated on January 08, 2020 Hero Images/Getty Images More in Hearing Loss/Deafness Support Causes & Prevention Sign Language Culture Hearing Aids & Technology The aging of the baby boomer generation has brought forth considerable growth in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. In fact, a report from the Better Hearing Institute suggests that as many as one in six baby boomers (or roughly 14.6 percent) has a hearing problem. Yet, despite the rising incidence, only around one in four people (23.5 percent) are currently using hearing aids. While the numbers are large, they are not necessarily as bad as they seem. According to a study from the University of Wisconsin, the incidence of hearing loss among baby boomers is actually 31 percent lower than the rates seen with their parents. Increased awareness about hearing protection largely accounts for these improvements. This doesn't mean that baby boomers should be any less concerned about addressing their hearing needs as they prepare for retirement. While advances in digital hearing technologies have overcome many of the challenges of hearing loss, people with more profound or progressive loss may need to target those organizations, nursing homes, and retirement communities able to address their needs. Senior Organizations The Deaf Seniors of America is a non-profit organization that advocates for the needs of deaf senior citizens. This Florida-based charity organizes national conferences and oversees an online discussion board for its regional members. It is a great way to network with others who can offer referrals, advice, and support from all over the country. Many states and cities also have organizations dedicated to deaf seniors. Among them: Bay Area Coalition of Deaf Senior Citizen (Livermore, California)Connecticut Deaf Seniors Citizens (West Hartford, Connecticut)Deaf Seniors Gatherings (Boise, Idaho)Deaf Seniors of Utah (Taylorsville, Utah)Long Island Deaf Senior Citizens Club (Wantagh, New York)Maryland Deaf Senior Citizens (Silver Spring, Maryland)Massachusetts Deaf Senior Citizen Center (Brookline Massachusetts)Minnesota Deaf Senior Citizens (Minneapolis, Minnesota)Modesto Deaf Senior Citizens (Empire, California)North Texas Deaf Senior Citizens (Arlington, Texas)Rhode Island Deaf Senior Citizens (Providence, Rhode Island)Rockford Senior Citizens for the Deaf (Rockford, Illinois)Senior Citizen Group for the Deaf (Buena Park, California)Silent Athletic Club of Denver (Aurora, Colorado)St. Francis Borgia Deaf Senior Citizens (Chicago, Illinois)Upstate Deaf Senior Citizens (Spartanburg, South Carolina) Other federal, state, and regional senior resources for the deaf can be found through the non-profit National Association of the Deaf based in Silver Spring, Maryland. If you are unable to find a deaf senior organization in your area, you can create your own on Meetup, the online community-building platform. It's a great way to connect with other deaf seniors near you while ensuring member privacy and comprehensive networking tools. Senior Housing Communities A growing number of retirement communities for the deaf have been built in the past decade with more being planned to accommodate this ever-expanding population. Some of the more notable assisted living communities and retirement homes for the deaf include: Apache ASL Trails (Tempe, Arizona)Bob Rumball Home for the Deaf (Barrie, Ontario)California Home for the Adult Deaf (Arcadia, California)Chestnut Lane (Gresham, Oregon)Columbus Colony Elderly Care (Westerville, Ohio)Granbury Center (Granbury, Texas)Deaf Affordable Housing Corporation (Los Angeles, California)Ebenezer Park Apartments (Minneapolis, Minnesota)New England Homes for the Deaf (Danvers, Massachusetts)Riderwood Retirement Community (Silver Spring, Maryland)Valley View Assisted Living For the Deaf (Elwyn, Pennsylvania)Water Tower View (Milwaukie, Wisconsin) Most of these facilities offer specialized services and amenities for the hearing impaired, including speech therapy, flashing doorbells/phones/alarms, TTY/TDD services, interpreters, and staff members fully fluent in American sign language. For additional referrals to deaf-compliant senior facilities in your state, contact the National Association of the Deaf (TTY 301-587-1789). The organization can also offer you advice on fair housing laws as prescribed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Better Hearing Institute. "Prevalence of Hearing Loss." Washington, D.C. Zhan, W.; Cruickshank, J.; Klein, B. et al. "Generational Differences in the Prevalence of Hearing Impairment in Older Adults." Amer J Epidemiol, 2010; 171(2):260-6. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwp370.