INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE: A REVENUE GENERATING OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL AMERICA

A PHASE I SBIR PROJECT TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY (RESIDENTIAL ELDERLY, DAY CARE CHILDREN) AS AN EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL AREAS: TO FOSTER, PROMOTE AND IMPROVE THE WELL BEING OF RURAL AMERICANS; TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICES TORURAL PEOPLE. THE PROPOSED FEASIBILITY STUDY INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF RESEARCH: 1) THE COMPILATION OF EXISTING RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY; 2) THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY INCLUDING ESTIMATES OF INCREMENTAL COSTS AND POTENTIAL ECONOMIES OF SCALE; DEVELOPING A SOURCE BOOK TO DISTRIBUTE NATIONALLY TO THOSE INTERESTED IN THE MODEL; 3) TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP STANDARDS OF MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES AND COST CONTROLS APPROPRIATE FOR EFFICIENT OPERATION OF AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY; 4) TO DEVELOP ANDADMINISTER AN EVALUATION INSTRUMENT TO ASSESS THE ATTITUDES OF CHILDREN AND ELDERS CARED FOR IN AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY; 5) TO ESTABLISH AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY BASED ON THE MODEL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS PROJECT. THIS PROJECT INTRODUCES A NEW CONCEPT IN CHILDREN'S AND ELDERLY CARE IN THE UNITED STATES, SIGNIFICANTLY BENEFITTING: RURAL HOMEOWNERS THROUGH EXPANDED INCOME POTENTIAL: ELDERLY, CHILDERN, PARENTS OF CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN OF THE ELDERLY THROUGH INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITYCARE IN A NON-INSTITUTIONAL FACILITY WITH 6-8 PEOPLE (RESIDENTIAL ELDERLY) WITH 6-8 CHILDREN (DAY CARE). THIS ISA NEW ECONOMIC DIRECTION FOR RURAL HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE HAVINGMONUMENTAL STRUGGLES TO RETAIN AND STAY IN THEIR LARGE HOMES. DEVELOPING AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CARE FACILITY WOULD BE A REAL AND SIGNIFICANT "SHOT IN THE ARM" AS WELL AS IMPROVING THE LIVES OF RURAL AMERICANS - THE ELDERLY, THE CHILDREN OF THE ELDERLY, YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE PARENTS OF THE YOUNG CHILDREN.