The concept of "Nursing Home" can be expressed in American Sign Language (ASL) a
couple of different ways.
I'm going to go ahead and suggest that you sign NURSE-HOME but I'll caution you
that not everyone will agree with that sign.
If you decide to sign NURSE-HOME to mean "nursing home" and your local ASL
teacher or Deaf friend criticizes you -- I recommend you do a search for "ASL
Nursing home" and/or Deaf nursing home and switch to the "videos option" and
show them a few of the examples online of real life Deaf people discussing
nursing homes and using the sign NURSE-HOME to mean nursing home.
Some "ASL" instructors will tell you to spell "nursing" then sign "HOME." I
suppose that is a "safe" answer.
Some "ASL" teachers will tell you to "expand" and sign "HOME FOR OLD PEOPLE."
Sure, I suppose that is okay but only if the person with whom you are signing
doesn't understand what it means. Then it is good to explain that NURSE-HOME
means a home for old people (or others who might benefit from such a place) to
live.
Remember though, that constantly expanding on something instead of just using a
two word combination is actually rather annoying and not something that adult
native Deaf signers do.
Some people might tell you to sign SENIOR-CITIZEN-HOME -- which I think is an
"okay" approach -- but not all residents of a nursing home are senior citizens.
TAKE-CARE-HOME (compound sign with reduced movements) seems to work very well
(see below) -- but still I encourage people to not be so English-phobic that you
would deny the Deaf Community the right to make use of multiple meaning signs.
The idea that signs only have one meaning is a myth. The sign NURSE-HOME is a
fine sign and an "ASL" concept.
- Dr. Bill
Reference: https://www.nad.org/fair-housing-video-transcript-and-description/
In a message dated 1/28/2014 9:00:18 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Kara Kruger
writes:
I love your site and recommend it to a lot of people. I work as a case manager
to deaf senior citizens and as they age, many are needing to move to group homes
and nursing homes where staff does not know sign language. I would love to see a
section like "First 100 signs" for this type of situation. The most important
things would be activity signs for basic senior games, feelings, pain, injury
signs, mealtime signs, medical basics, some basic safety signs like fire drill.
Just an idea for a great page that would be very helpful in my every day work!
Thanks.
- Kara Kruger
Family Care Case Manager
In a message dated 1/18/2017 7:32:14 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Lyn writes:
I like your discussion of the various signs for nursing home. In this area and
in Seattle I occasionally see: senior-citizens, home (senior citizens as sign
with an S at dominant corner of the mouth and then moving hand to the
non-dominant corner of the mouth and signing C).
A certified interpreter in Seattle told me that she was taught that
'senior-citizens home' is less harsh (her words) and more respectful than 'old
persons' home.' In her words, "Just like when we speak by voice, referring to
someone as a 'senior citizen' is more respectful than calling them an 'old
person.'
As for me, I'm an 'old-person-senior-citizen' so either of those terms/signs are
okay with me :)
Is the sign 'senior-citizen, home' acceptable for 'nursing home' as well - or
not? Your thoughts?
- Lyn
--------------------
Dear Lyn,
I think that "SENIOR-CITIZENS HOME" version is a good one-time expansion that
can be helpful if explaining the idea of a nursing home -- but after a person
understands the concept I'd just stick with NURSE-HOME.
I also sort of like the idea of a "TAKE-CARE HOME" -- using the sign that looks
like KEEP. Typically I do the sign TAKE-CARE-of using a double movement but I
find myself tending to using a single contact of the K-hands followed by a
single contact of the HOME sign. (Thus it is expressed as a compound.)
However, as an everyday sign for people who often discuss "nursing homes" I
would still go with NURSE-HOME. We shouldn't ignore the fact that Deaf Americans
live immersed in an environment full of Hearing people who constantly use the
term "nursing home." (They do not write or type "take care home.")
-- Dr. Bill
Nursing Home Signs:
Games/Activities: BINGO / CARDS /
EXERCISE / DEAF CLUB
People: FAMILY / SON /
DAUGHTER / GUARDIAN / SOCIAL WORKER
Feelings: FINE / GOOD /
OKAY / glad-HAPPY /
LONELY / CONFUSED / ANGRY/
MAD
Social: MEET / WELCOME / GOOD-MORNING-AFTERNOON-NIGHT / VISIT / BIRTHDAY /
TRANSPORTATION / LATE / CANCELED / WAIT
Safety: FIRE-DRILL / TORNADO-DRILL / EMERGENCY-TESTING
Medical: PAIN-INJURY / BANDAGE / CHANGE / take-PILL / NURSE / DOCTOR / SICK /
INJECTION / MEDICINE / FALL-down
Mealtime: EAT / DRINK / DON'T LIKE / HOT / COLD
Hygiene: BATHROOM / SHOWER / BATH /
Equipment: WHEELCHAIR / WALKER / GLASSES / HEARING-AID
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