Distance Learning for Home Modifications

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的目标是开发和测试一系列在线教育模块的可行性，这些模块为有感觉、行动、身体和认知障碍的老年人提供家居改造的实用信息。通过改造、增加适应性硬件或改变物体的安排来改造家庭是一种重要的干预策略，可以管理慢性卫生保健状况，维持或改善功能，增加独立性，确保经历功能限制的体弱老年人的安全，并最大限度地降低个人护理服务的成本。在美国，房屋改造实施有限的一个主要原因不是缺乏木匠或建筑工人来实施改造，而是缺乏社会服务机构的个人，特别是在非城市地区，他们缺乏知识来规定适当的改造。远程学习是教育服务提供者的一种有效方式，使他们能够根据老年人的具体需求制定全面的、多维度的战略，并据此制定家庭改造方案。第一阶段将包括开发和测试一门两个模块的课程，内容是关于家庭改造，以补偿认知障碍，如阿尔茨海默病和相关痴呆症。两种不同的课程形式，同步（一组学习者在同一时间框架内学习课程，通过公告板与彼此和教授对话）和异步（没有互动组件，但学习者可以随时学习课程）将测试知识获取和学习者偏好。第二阶段将开发和测试几个额外的家庭改造课程的效果，这些课程适用于有其他条件的个人，如感觉、功能或行动障碍。第三阶段将包括一项积极的营销计划，使课程能够方便地提供给广泛的社会服务机构人员、承包商和其他从事房屋改造的人。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to develop and test the feasibility of a series of online educational modules that provide practical information on home modifications for older adults with sensory, mobility, physical and cognitive impairments. Modifying a home through remodeling, adding adaptive hardware, or changing the arrangement of objects is an important intervention strategy to manage chronic health care conditions, maintain or improve functioning, increase independence, ensure safety of frail older adults who experience functional limitations, and minimize the cost of personal care services. A major reason for the limited implementation of home modifications throughout the U.S. is not a lack of carpenters or construction people to implement the modifications, but rather the lack of individuals in social service agencies, particularly in non-urban areas, who have the knowledge to prescribe the appropriate modifications. Distance learning is an effective way to educate service providers to enable them to prescribe home modifications as part of a comprehensive, multi-dimensional strategy tailored to the specific needs of older adults. Phase I will involve the development and testing of a two-module course on home modifications to compensate for cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Two separate course formats, synchronous (where a group of learners take the course during the same time frame, dialoguing with each other and the professor through a bulletin board) and asynchronous (where there is no interactive component but learners can take the course at any time) will be tested for both knowledge gain and learner preference. Phase II will develop and test the efficacy of several additional courses on home modifications for individuals with other conditions, such as sensory, functional or mobility impairments. Phase III will include an aggressive marketing plan to make the courses readily available to a broad range of social service agency personnel, contractors, and others engaged in home modifications.