EFFECTING GREATER INDEPENDENCE OF THE FRAIL ELDERLY USE OF LOW-TECHNOLOGY DEVICES

THE FIRST OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING TWO TRAINING PROGRAMS-ONE FOR LONG-TERM CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ONE FOR CONSUMERS (THE FRAIL ELDERLY AND THEIR FAMILIES). TRAINING WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE USE OF LOW-TECHNOLOGY DEVICES TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE OF THE FRAIL ELDERLY WHO LIVE ON THEIR OWN. PHASE I WILL INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE TRAINING, ALONG WITH A SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL THAT WILL INDICATE ALL MEMBERS OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE WHO NEED TO BE INCLUDED. THE SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO DETERMINE COMMERCIAL FEASIBILITY OF MARKETING THE TWO TRAINING PACKAGES. PROVIDER TRAINING WILL BE MARKETED TO PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH THE AGING; CONSUMER TRAINING MAY BE UNDERWRITTEN BY MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF LOW-TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AND THEN MARKETED TO LIBRARIES AND SENIOR CENTERS. TESTING OF TRAINING WILL ALLOW FOR EXTENSIVE REVIEWS AND REVISIONS BEFORE PREPARING THE FINAL PACKAGES FOR MARKETING.