When Family Becomes The BSL Interpreter

For many families, caring for an elderly parent can be challenging enough. But when professional care services cannot communicate effectively with that parent, relatives can find themselves taking on a role they were never meant to carry.

That is the situation facing Peter Moone, a Northampton man who has spent much of his life interpreting for his deaf mother.

Moone, 49, says his 85-year-old mother, Maureen, has struggled to access appropriate support since the death of her husband in 2025. Born deaf, she did not learn to read or write, meaning communication through British Sign Language (BSL) is particularly important to her.

Yet, according to her son, specialist deaf-care provision has been difficult to find.

A responsibility that began in childhood

Moone’s experience is unusual in one respect, but sadly familiar in another. He says he has interpreted for both of his deaf parents since he was just eight years old.

As his mother has grown older, that childhood responsibility has followed him into adulthood.

The problem is not simply about knowing how to sign. Professional care involves sensitive conversations about health, finances, personal needs and sometimes deeply emotional experiences. Expecting a family member to interpret every interaction can create pressure for both the individual receiving care and the relative providing it.

It can also raise questions about privacy, independence and whether the person receiving support is genuinely able to communicate freely.

The cost of specialist care

Moone says he approached West Northamptonshire Council about finding suitable support for his mother and suggested a specialist provider based in Peterborough.

The provider cared for Maureen from August 2025 while funding arrangements were considered. However, Moone says the council later told the family it could no longer continue funding the service because of financial pressures.

That left the family facing a bill of around £3,500, according to the BBC report.

For families already dealing with the emotional consequences of losing a loved one and supporting an ageing parent, unexpected care costs can add another layer of anxiety.

Why access matters

The issue goes beyond one family or one local authority.

For deaf older people, accessibility cannot simply mean having a telephone number, a website or a standard care service available. True accessibility means being able to communicate with professionals in a way that allows a person to understand what is happening and express their own wishes.

That distinction becomes especially important in health and social care.

A hearing person would not normally be expected to bring a relative to every appointment simply because the professional could not communicate with them. Deaf people should not automatically be placed in that position either.

Family members can provide invaluable support, but that is different from making them responsible for delivering essential communication.

A wider support gap

The situation has also emerged against a backdrop of concern about specialist deaf services in the area.

Deafconnect, a charity that supported deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Northamptonshire through services including advocacy and education, closed in July. The loss of organisations such as this can be particularly significant for older deaf people who may already have limited access to appropriate services.

When specialist organisations disappear, families can be left trying to navigate complicated care systems on their own.

And for someone who has spent decades communicating primarily through BSL, finding a service that genuinely understands their needs is not an optional extra. It can determine whether they are able to live with dignity and independence.

Listening to the people who need support

West Northamptonshire Council has said it takes concerns about the standard, accessibility and provision of care services seriously and deals with them through its established investigation processes.

For families such as the Moones, however, the bigger question is what happens between making a complaint and receiving meaningful support.

Accessibility should not depend on how persistent a relative is, how much time they have available or whether they are able to navigate a complicated complaints process.

The lesson from this case is simple: communication is part of care.

If a person cannot communicate with their carers, doctors, social workers or other professionals, then access to care is already compromised.

For deaf people growing older, specialist support and qualified communication services can make the difference between being dependent on relatives and being able to participate in decisions about their own lives.

The challenge now is ensuring that deaf people do not have to fight for that basic level of independence — and that families are not left carrying the responsibility alone.