Donate to Tara's Project for Hearing Inclusion

Are you aware that about 65 percent of people over 70 experience hearing loss, and by age 90, this number jumps to 96.5 percent (Reed, et al., 2023)? It's a common challenge for older adults.

Have you ever accompanied a loved one to an appointment and had to interpret or take notes for them because of their hearing loss, just so they could participate in their own healthcare decisions?

This is why I want to raise money for a closed captioning device to use during interactions with patients. This will be completed for my social justice project, which is due at the end of the summer. This device can be used to caption team meetings, allowing the patient to read what is happening on the device's screen. The transcript of the meeting can also be captured and sent to the patients afterward, so they have notes readily available.

Examples of use:

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a Care Plan Meeting with the hospice company for which I am completing my MSW practicum placement. The care plan meeting was called by the couple who were both our patients; they wanted our support and help suggesting assisted living to their family. I noticed that both patients were having a difficult time. He was using his late friend’s ineffective hearing aids, which made it hard for him to understand the discussion, so he had to rely on his wife to fill him in later. Unfortunately, due to her Parkinson’s disease, she couldn't take notes, leaving her husband struggling to grasp the meeting details. To assist, I took notes during the meeting and shared them with her afterward. The Caption Companion would be fantastic in this situation. The husband could read what was happening in the meeting, and then the wife could get the notes printed and delivered later.

It could also be used one-on-one by a patient's bedside. The nurse could talk into the microphone, and the patient could read exactly what is being asked. This way, communication is more concise, and the patient can be fully involved in their healthcare decisions.

Who I am:

My name is Tara Holcomb. I am a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I am in my third year of my Master's in Social Work, with a clinical concentration and a certificate in gerontology.

I am completing my generalist practicum placement (400 hours) at a hospice agency in SW Missouri and I want to build an inclusive environment for those hard of hearing in our hospice organization.

I only have six weeks to complete this fundraiser, so I ask that you help me by giving freely.