2. Barbara A. Thomas, RN, MA, MS, FNP Westchester Community College, NY Barbara.thomas@sunywcc.edu 914-606-7852 Westchester Community College, NY Barbara.thomas@sunywcc.edu 914-606-7852 Jean F. Coppola, BS, MS, MS, Ph.D. Pace University, NY jcoppola@pace.edu 914-773-3755 Pace University, NY jcoppola@pace.edu 914-773-3755

3. Overview I.Background II.Brainstorming III.Collaborations / Partnerships IV.Donations V.Instruments VI. Instruments VII. Grants VIII. Present Status IX. Resources

4. Gerontechnology A Work in Progress…

5.  Powerlessness Empowerment => 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  Engaging Students in a Service Learning Course to Appreciate & Understand the Process of Aging & its Limitations  Enticing Seniors in the Use of Technology  To Ultimately Improve their Quality of Life

6. 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?

7. Background: History - Back in the Dog’s Age …   History of working with PDA’s & CS Graduate Students Developing Nursing Informatics Software

8. Background (cont):  My Second Home, Intergenerational Adult Day Care Center - March 2005  DVD Clip – March 6, 2006  “Take Your Grandparents to Work Day – in Reverse” Partnered with IBM & Local County Government Office of Senior Programs & Services  Kept in touch with Reps

9. Background (cont):  NYU Faculty Resource Network [FRN]  FRN Associate Program  Access to Library Databases

10. The literature says: Comunicación y Gerencia Click to add Text

11. Older Adults who use technology have: More positive outlook on life More positive outlook on life Greater Sense of Emotional Well Being &Self Worth Greater Sense of Emotional Well Being &Self Worth Increased Cognitive Functioning Increased Cognitive Functioning Decreased Levels of Depression Decreased Levels of Depression Reduced Isolation by Offering a Means of Social Interaction and Mental Stimulation Reduced Isolation by Offering a Means of Social Interaction and Mental Stimulation Comunicación y Gerencia David C. Burdick & Sunkyo Kwon, Gerotechnology, Springer 2004

12. Brainstorming: Pieces of Puzzle Fell into Place …. Literature Search Revealed Research, i.e., Dr. Jules Rosen (PA), Europe, etc. Investigations of Seniors with Beginning Stages of Dementia Developed Family Primary Caregivers & Nursing Home Staff Educational Programs Resulted in Development of Videos, Websites

13. Beginning Collaborations: Government Office of Senior Programs & Services Solicited Potential Research Partners Medicare Part D Pre-White House Conference on Aging United Hebrew Geriatric Center (UHGC), New Rochelle, NY Network, Network, Network!

14. Beginning Collaborations: 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

15. Equipment Donations ….

17. Donations: Solicited Computer Donations –Surprises & Networking Met with Apple Podcasting Seminar Civic Association – Consulting Firms Pace University, NY Westchester PC User Group Student & Faculty Donations

18. Hardware Team

19. Instruments / Grants: Search for Instruments to Validate Data Stokes, Gordon Stress Inventory IBM Adaptation Technology Internal School Grant Support HP Community Grants (TechSoup) Westchester Community Foundation

20. Present Status: 23 CIS102T Intergenerational Computing Course Students just completed teaching 26 Seniors at United Hebrew Geriatric Center to Use the Computer Aging & Role Playing Orientation 5 weeks of 1 hr+ sessions Students came on-site to the Seniors

21. Student Orientation at UHGC

22. Orientation & Student Preparation: Students Randomly Selected to Enroll in CIS102T Intergenerational Computing Course 5 Weeks of Introduction & Didactic Geriatric Content Students Were Assigned to one of 3 Facilities for Duration of Semester Students / Seniors completed different Pre- & Post-surveys Dr. Frances G. Gustavson, Professor, Information Systems, Pace University

23. Role Playing :  Visually Impaired  Glaucoma  Cataracts  Macular Degeneration  Hearing Impaired  Motor Skills  Arthritis  Poor Muscle Tone

24. Senior Survey  15 Question Likert Scale

25. Antidotes  “Everyone [all seniors] Should Learn How to Use the Computer So They Won’t Be Left Behind”  Some of the ladies in Sound View (Senior Housing) 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”

26. Future Work: o Analyze Data from Student & Senior Surveys for o More Intergenerational Computing Sections will be offered in the Fall & Spring o Possible Replication of Study o Integrating Technology with Nurses at UHGC o Experimentation with “Brain Games” o Summer Volunteers

27. Resources CAST (Center for Aging Services Technologies) http://www.agingtech.org/grants_main.aspx SPEAK-UP http://www.westchestergov.com/seniornews/ SPEAK-UP.htm Gerontological Society of America http://www.gsa-tag.org/

28. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. Kehlog Albran Resources:  Service Learning http://www.servicelearn.com /  Service Learning Clearing House http://www.servicelearning.org/  SPRY (Setting Priorities for Retirement Years http://www.spry.org/  Gerotechnology: Research and Practice in Technology & Aging by D. Burdick & S. Kwon 2004

29. Barbara A. Thomas Westchester Community College, NY Barbara.thomas@sunywcc.edu 914-606-7852 Westchester Community College, NY Barbara.thomas@sunywcc.edu 914-606-7852 Jean F. Coppola Pace University, NY jcoppola@pace.edu 914-773-3755 Pace University, NY jcoppola@pace.edu 914-773-3755 THANK YOU! Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information or collaboration ! https://storage.pace.edu/JCoppola/Gerontechnology