CapTel: FREE Phone Captioning For San Diego County Deaf or Disabled Persons

CapTel PhoneIf an elderly loved one who receives home care in San Diego County is suffering from hearing loss, you have probably both experienced frustration during phone conversations. We have grown so accustomed to using the phone that when it just doesn’t work any more due to hearing loss, it is very difficult for us to figure out how to communicate long distance. Many seniors find it tricky to use email, and traditional mail does not lend itself to casual conversation!

Cap Tel for San Diego County In-Home Care

 A new service, Cap Tel, makes it possible for even an elderly person with severe hearing loss to talk comfortably and naturally on the phone. The specialized receiver routes each call through a live captioning service, which transcribes the spoken words into text. The text appears on a display attached to the phone, allowing the speaker to read what he is hearing.

Simplicity and Clarity

 With Cap Tel, there is no more repeating words, shouting into the phone, or absurd misunderstanding due to confusion. If a senior is having trouble understanding a conversation, he can read the other person’s words for himself and see exactly what is being said. Seniors using home care near Fairbanks Ranch will finally enjoy talking on the phone with confidence again!

How CapTel Phones WorkAn Affordable Solution

 Families who already pay for San Diego County private duty care often find it difficult to find the funds to pay for additional tools for their loved ones. Cap Tel is a welcome exception; a federal assistance program for disabled Americans makes the captioning service free to qualified users. The only cost involved is the purchase of the specialized receiver, and even that expense is discounted or even free for California residents.

You can purchase them at this discounted price (if you don’t want to look into the FREE program in California described below) by going to the Weitbrecht Communications Captel Phones website page.

In California, Apply for a FREE CapTel 800 Phone

California residents may qualify to receive a CapTel 800* phone free through a special state program that provides telephone equipment to people with hearing loss. Note that this is available to all California residents with qualifying hearing or disability issues, regardless of income level.

To apply for a free CapTel 800 phone, contact:

DDTP – California Deaf and Disabled Telephone Program

1-800-806-1191 (Voice)
1-800-806-4474 (TTY)
1-800-889-3974 (FAX)

* Requires: analog telephone line(s) (also supports DSL with appropriate filter)

You can also look online to learn more about the California Relay Service.

There is virtually no reason not to pick up a Cap Tel phone for a hearing-impaired senior. Cap Tel’s website provides contact information to get your family set up with this great tool right away.

Tim Colling
Tim Colling

Tim Colling is the founder and President of A Servant's Heart In-Home Care, which provided in-home caregiving services in San Diego County, and also of A Servant's Heart Geriatric Care Management, which provided
professional geriatric care management services and long term care placement services in San Diego County. Tim has more than 30 years of experience in management in a variety of industries. He held a Certified Care Manager credential from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers. Tim is also a Certified Public Accountant (retired), and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from California State University at San Diego. In addition to writing blog posts here for the Servant’s Heart blog, Tim also is a regular contributor to HealthLine.com and to FamilyAffaires.com as well as blogs of other eldercare services provider companies. Finally, Tim is also the president of A Servant's Heart Web Design and Marketing, which provides home care marketing as well as website design and online marketing for those who serve the elderly and their families.

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