FIRE SAFETY CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR THE ELDERLY

THE LONG-RANGE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE: (1) TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEM WHEREBY PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO WORK WITH ELDERLY PEOPLE IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS CAN RECEIVE UNIFORM AND VALIDATED TRAINING IN FIRE SAFETY, AND (2) TO DEMONSTRATE A DECREASE IN THE RISK OF FIRE, FIRE DEATHS, AND FIRE INJURIES AMONG THE ELDERLY. THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE A TWO-LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAM. LEVEL I IS DESIGNED FOR OPERATORS, OWNERS, AND DIRECT CARE STAFF OF BOARD AND CARE HOMES, FOR STAFF OF NURSING HOMES AND INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES WITH ELDERLY RESIDENTS, AND FORELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOMES. LEVEL II IS FOR TRAINERS. IN PHASE II, COMPUTER- OR VIDEO-BASED INSTRUCTION WILL BE DEVELOPED AS ALTERNATIVES AND COMPARED WITH INSTRUCTOR-LED WORKSHOPS. THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE FOUR COMPONENTS: (1) INSTRUCTOR TRAINING, (2) WORKSHOPS FOR DIRECT CARE STAFF AND ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOMES, (3) A CONTINUINGEDUCATION PROGRAM, AND (4) A NETWORK TO LINK CLIENTS WITH CERTIFIED TRAINERS AND CONDUCT FOLLOWUP DATA COLLECTION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE TRAINING IS REDUCING FIRES AND FIRE FATALITIES IN HOMES OR INSTITUTIONS WHERE INDIVIDUALS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE TRAINING. SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED.