Gerontechnology Research: Opportunity in a Rapidly Growing Field

Barbara A. Thomas, RN, MA, MS, FNP Westchester Community College, NY Division of Natural and Health Science

Associate Professor, Nursing

Gerontechnology Research: Opportunity in a Rapidly Growing

Janna Heyman, MSW, PhD Fordham University, NY

Associate Director, Ravazzin Center on Aging

Associate Professor

Jean F. Coppola, BS, MS, MS, PhD Pace University, NY

Seidenberg School of Computer Science& Information Systems Associate Professor,

Information Technology

Lin J. Drury, PhD, RN Pace University, NY

Lienhard School of Nursing Associate Professor, Nursing

Colette Phipps, LMSW Westchester County , NY

Department of Senior Programs & Services Deputy Executive Director, Livable Communities

Director, Westchester Alliance Academic Institutions for Aging Related Studies

and Workforce Development

Sharon Stahl Wexler, PhD, RN, BCPace University, NY

Lienhard School of Nursing Assistant Professor, Nursing

Terminology: => Gerontechnology or Gerotechnology

Study of technology for the improvement of daily functions of the elderly Coined by Jan Graafmans of Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands in 1989 First book devoted to the new field was published in 1992

Gerontechnology

Course that: Engages Students in Service-Learning Develops Appreciation & Understanding the Process of Aging & its Limitations

“Intergenerational Computing”

The literature says:

Comunicación y Gerencia

Older Adults who use technology

More positive outlook on life Greater Sense of Emotional

Well Being & Self Worth Increased Cognitive

FunctioningDecreased Levels of Depression

Reduced Isolation by Offering a Means of Social

Interaction and Mental Stimulation

Comunicación y Gerencia

The literature says:David C. Burdick & Sunkyo Kwon, Gerotechnology, Springer

1) As you have aged, list the physical changes that are beginning to hinder your use of technology, i.e., computer, PDAs, digital media devices, etc.

2) Be honest - just write your age down! 3) What do you fear the most about the aging

process?

Background: My Second Home,

Intergenerational Adult Day Care Center - March 2005

TV Clip – March 6, 2006 “Take Your Grandparents to

Work Day – in Reverse” Partnered with IBM & Local County Government Office of Senior Programs & Services

Intergenerational Computing !!!

Intergenerational

Computing!

Beginning Collaborations :• Contact Government Office of Aging• Westchester County Department of Senior

Programs & Services• Medicare Part D• Pre-White House Conference on Aging• By 2020, persons aged 60+ are expected to

comprise 22% of the population• Solicited Potential Research Partners• United Hebrew Geriatric Center (UHGC), New

Rochelle, NY• Network, Network, Network in your community!11

Initial Partnership :• United Hebrew Geriatric Center (UHGC),

New Rochelle, NY• Initial Meeting October 2005• Consortium Formed• Planning Sessions• Milestones Set• Service-Learning / Civic Engagement Course Developed & Approved• Pilot January 2006

Older Adult PopulationContinuing Care

Retirement Communities

Independent Living Sr ApartmentsAssisted LivingSkilled Nursing Home & Rehab Center

Team Assets & Resources :Community Partner

Space for ComputersInternet AccessStaff / Nurse Participation & SupervisionEnthusiastic Residents

Westchester Community

CollegeNursing FacultyComputer Club Support

Pace UniversityFaculty Curriculum DevelopmentService-Learning StudentsStudent SupervisionLab Setups & Donation Assistance

Westchester.gov Sr. ProgsAlliance for AgingSPEAKUPContacts! Network!

Support, Budget & Donations• All constituents had Top Level

Administration Support • Support by entire health care team• Project Budget was $ 0 !! • Solicited Community for Computer Donations

EquipmentDonations

….16

Donations:• Solicited Computer Donations

– Surprises & Networking• Met with Apple• Podcasting Seminar• Civic Association – Consulting Firms• Pace University, NY• Westchester PC User Group• Alumni, Students & Parents &

Grants :• Westchester Community Foundation $10K,

$15K• IBM Adaptation Technology $35K• Fuji Film (10 cameras)• Pace Internal School Grant Support

– Eugene M. Lang Student-Faculty Research Fellowship

– Kenan Scholarly Research Grant • Isabel Brabazon Award for

Intergenerational Evaluation & Research $5K

CIS102T Intergenerational Computing• Interdisciplinary Course Pilot S06 (23 students)• Students Taught Process of Aging / Social

Gerontology, Technology in Action & Values of Service-Learning

• Intense 5 weeks of training now 7 weeks w 1+hr 1-1 Training• Team Assignments & Role Playing• Orientation• Team Leaders & Troubleshooter• Unexpected bonds

Aging SimulationVisually Impaired

Glaucoma (Squares) Cataracts (Vaseline/Toothpaste)Macular Degeneration (Dots)

Motor Skills Arthritis in the Fingers

(Masking Tape)Arthritis in the Feet

(Stones / Popcorn Kernels in shoes)Poor Muscle Tone

Hearing Impaired (Cotton Balls)

Simulated Visual Impairments Detached Retina

Glaucoma

Cataracts

Heminopsia

Macular Degeneration

Retinopathy

Role Playing Tape 2-3 fingers on each hand with masking tape Insert cotton ball in each ear Wear a pair of simulation glasses Try typing on the keyboard Dial a number on cell phone Teach each other the computer; repeat instructions as many times as necessary changing volume & closing eyes

Student Orientation at UHGC

Orientation & Student Preparation :

• Students Self-Selected to Enroll in CIS102T Intergenerational Computing Course

• Students Self-Selected to one of 3 Facilities for Duration of Semester

• Students / Seniors completed different Pre-& Post-surveys

Student Coursework :

• Team Leaders• Chief Troubleshooter• Manuals• 5 Weeks of Introduction & Didactic

Geriatric Content

Older Adult Surveys & Cognitive Assessment Instruments

Student Instruments:• Search for Validated Instruments

• Student Pre and Post Surveys Self- Perception Attitude Towards Older Adults

• Student Pre and Post Surveys Self- Perception Advocacy For Older Adults

• Student Self-Perception Knowledge of Technology Survey

Instruments:• Older Adult MoCA (Montreal

Cognitive Assessment) http://www.mocatest.org/ http://www.mocatest.org/pdf_files/MOCA-Test-English.pdf

• Experiences & Attitudes towards Aging Questionaire (EAAQ) - Laidlaw

• Older Adult Pre and Post Self-Perception Computer Anxiety

& Assistive Technology Survey• Demographic data collection tool

Methods

One-group pretest/posttest design (N=165)

Measures Attitudes towards older persons Coursework in aging Personal experiences with older adults Interest in advocating for aging issues Stimulating students to be involved in

aging issues

Students’ Coursework and Volunteer Experience

CourseworkNo previous coursework

93.4%Previous coursework

Previous volunteer experience with older adultsPrevious volunteer experience

34.5%No Previous volunteer experience

Students’ Interest in Advocating for Older Persons with Specific Action

Action Pretest Mean Posttest MeanDiscuss aging issues with classmates 3.29 3.38

Encourage others to become involved in aging issues

3.20 3.44*

Work with other college students to form an aging committee.

2.70 2.94*

Meet with local congress representative about aging issues

2.51 2.69

Go to Albany and discuss aging issues in NYS 2.12 2.28

* Higher scores indicate more positive interest. Mean scores increased between pre and posttest, with statistical differences in 2 specific action areas

Profile of Student Participants (N=165)

Number Percent

Age at enrollment Mean Standard Deviation

21.78 years5.19

Gender Male Female

52.7%47.3%

Ethnicity Hispanic African American Caucasian Asian Other

27159618 9

16.4% 9.1%58.2% 10.9%5.5%

Year Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

12475353

7.3%28.5%32.1%32.1%

Students’ Attitudes towards Older Persons

Attitude scores could range from 0 to 27

Mean SDAttitude Scores at Pretest 19.22 3.0

Attitude Scores at Posttest 19.61 3.2

Scores were slightly higher at posttest, but not statistically significant (t=-1.37, p>.05)

Profile of Intervention Senior ParticipantsPercent

Age of Participants Mean Standard Deviation

77.76 years10.59

Gender Male Female

24.0%76.0%

Ethnicity African American Hispanic Caucasian

16.0%12.0%72.0%

Residence Nursing Home Assisted living Independent Living

24.0%44.0%32.0%

(N=116)

Improvement in Senior MOCA Scores

N Mean Standard Deviation

Pre MOCA scores- Experimental group

25 17.76 4.30

Post MOCA scores-Experimental group

25 20.80 4.16

Paired t-tests reveals a significant improvement (p<.001)

in MOCA scores between pre and post test

*Control Group data is being analyzed, but preliminary results suggests that the significant improvement is not a learning effect.

Student Blogs & Reflections

“A very important observation I made was, the older adults valued their email communication more than anything else on the Internet. This could prove that as people age their values change, or they become more family oriented.… the smile on her face was worth every second of the time spent showing her how to sent the original message.”

“Over the seven weeks at assistant living, Lowell taught me as much as I taught him.”

Older Adults &

Technology

Older Adult Antidotes

“Everyone [all senior citizens] Should Learn How to Use the Computer So They Won’t Be Left Behind”

Some of the older adult women were sitting in the common area when the students were toured past them. One said loudly to the other, "Look those must be our teachers! I guess they will be teaching these old ladies some new tricks!"

“One [student] is just nicer than the other”

“I’ve been putting it off – I know it’s time to learn the computer!”

• Older Adult “diplomas”• Students certificates

“Graduation”

Lessons Learned

There is better participation and learning success when seniors have their own computer and own space.

One on one instruction imperative. Social bonds and trust lead to success. Prepared student teachers work best. Seniors want to learn if the environment is right. Graduation Ceremony something to work towards

Benefits – Physical

– Small motor skills appeared to improve

– Practice of eye-hand coordination improved mouse skills

– Those with profound hearing loss were able to enjoy use.

Benefits – Social and Psychological– Seniors felt purposeful– Gave confidence – felt capable of

learning– Developed new relationships with

students– Avenue for connecting with family– Connect seniors to the forward moving

world at large

Other Facets of the Project

Prof. Shelley Garnet, Human Services, Westchester Community College

Telikin as an Adjunct to OT/PT

Exercises to work with long term rehab patients (ages ranged from 70-86 yrs) with severe motor disabilities

Enhancement of Lost Motor Skills

Patients watched YouTube videos while exercising

Telikin as an Adjunct to OT/PT

Read news & checked weather, which allowed them to use touchscreen for fine motor skills

Typed information to improve motor skills

Played Memory Games, Blackjack, & Photo Scramble

Used calendar

Issues for Older Adults Using a Computer

Many Computer Screens are Cluttered & Busy

Applications are Hard to Find

Some Color Combinations are Hard to Read

Font sizes are too Small especially for those with Macular Degeneration

Font Selections are Sometimes Hard to Read

Passwords are Difficult Barriers

Too Many Options / Functions to Choose From

Issues for Older Adults with Using a PC, Mouse &

Keyboard

Older Adults did not Grow-up Using a Computer so Using a Mouse is Foreign

Double-clicking Extremely Difficult

Letters on Keyboards are too Small

Afraid of Breaking the Computer

Too Many Steps for Email & Video Chats

Creating Assistive Devices in Service-Learning Courses

– Build prototypes of assistive devices

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.

Kehlog Albran

RESOURCES: Gerontechnology: Growing

Old in a Technological Society, by Lesnoff-Caravaglia 2007

Gerotechnology: Research and Practice in Technology & Aging by D. Burdick & S. Kwon 2004

Service-Learning http://www.servicelearn.com/

Service-Learning Clearing House

http://www.servicelearning.org/

SPRY (Setting Priorities for Retirement Years http://www.spry.org/

Resources• Gerontological Society of America

http://www.gsa-tag.org/• Campus Compact http://www.compact.org/• Project Pericles

http://www.projectpericles.org/• CAST (Center for Aging Services

Technologies) http://www.agingtech.org/grants_main.aspx

• AARP

Acknowledgements: IBM, Accessibility Research Fuji Film Inc. Dalton School, NY, NY Eugene M. Lang Student-Faculty Research Fellowship Pace University Scholarly Research Grant Pace University Presidential Civic Competency Grant Pace University Sponsored Research and Economic Development Project Pericles Grant Westchester Community Foundation Westchester Public / Private Partnership for Aging Services (PPPA) Westchester Alliance of Academic Institutions for Aging Related

Studies and Workforce Development Westchester PC User Group, White Plains, NY Nancy Hale and Dan Farkas, Information Technology Pace University Dean Connie Knapp, Seidenberg School of CS & IS

Janna Heyman heyman@fordham.edu 718-817-5633

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR FURTHER COLLABORATION!!! Jean F. Coppola jcoppola@pace.edu 914-773-3755

Barbara A. Thomas barbara.thomas@sunywcc.edu 914-606-7852

Lin Drury ldrury@pace.edu 212-346-1896

Colette Phipps cap2@westchestergov.com 914-813-6441

Sharon Wehl Wexler swexler@pace.edu 212-346-1461

Slides@ https://wfs.pace.edu/WFSRoot/jcoppola/Gerotechnology

THANK YOU!Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information

or collaboratio

Gerontechnology Research: Opportunity in a Rapidly Growing Field

ny associate director

use of technology

aging associate professor

phd pace university

power of technology

phd fordham university

rn pace university

bcpace university

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