The Administration on Aging (AoA) reports that about one in every eight Americans is over age 65, and our older population will continue to increase dramatically over the next 30 years. Those over age 85 represent the fastest growing segment of our population. As life expectancy increases, so does the time living with age-related changes and disabilities. Service programs designed to improve the independence, advocacy and quality of life for this population are needed now, and this need will increase in the years ahead.
Through the core programs offered by centers for independent living (CILs) (Information and Referral; Individual and Systems Advocacy; Independent Living Skills Training; and Peer Counseling), Section 704 Annual Performance Report for Centers for Independent Living indicated 189,935 consumers were served in 2001-2003. Among those served 40,258 (almost 25%) were senior consumers ages 65 and older. Programs offered by centers for independent living are well positioned to meet the independence-related needs of older consumers. With the expanding elderly population, CILs are likely to see an increased demand from older persons for programs and services. This could translate into requiring additional funding through a fee-for-service approach or from contracts with Area Agencies on Aging.
This resource manual "The CIL Pathfinder for Services and Programs for Older Americans" was developed as a joint project between the Rehabilitation Research Training Center on Independent Living Management (RRTC-ILM) and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for Successful Aging (RERC-Tech-Aging). The mission of the RRTC-ILM is to assist centers for independent living in their efforts in becoming managerially, financially and programmatically viable by applying management research and training projects via nationally recognized experts. The mission of the RERC-Tech-Aging is to expand the knowledge base in assistive technology (AT) for older persons with disabilities (research), create new, useful, assistive devices for this population (device development), educate service providers, researchers and device developers to meet personnel needs in this area for today and the future (education), and provide information and technical assistance to appropriate audiences including older persons with disabilities, their caregivers and service providers (information dissemination).
This resource guide was developed to help CILs: (1) understand specific needs and problems that are unique to older persons as they age, (2) understand the network of aging organizations including their organizational structure and funding sources, (3) help identify ways to network with these established "aging" agencies and (4) locate and tap into some of the monies that are available for "senior" programs.
This resource guide has thirteen sections. Section I describes the Older Americans Act, its origin, purpose, organization, and programs. Section II describes the origin and purpose of the Older Americans Act, service programs provided under the Act and the aging network of organizations from federal level (Administration on Aging - establishing priorities) to state level (State Units on Aging) to local level (Area Agencies on Aging). The Area Agencies on Aging are responsible for identifying and developing programs that meet the specific needs of the senior population living in their area.
Sections III, IV, and V illustrate a comparison between the Older Americans Act and the Rehabilitation Act Title VII, comparison between the operations of the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and centers for independent living (CILs), and a comparison of services and programs offered by the Area Agencies on Aging and the centers for independent living. Section VI offers a listing of possible areas of collaboration between the AAAs and CILs.
Sections VII and VIII describe the demographics of the aging population, and how age-related changes and chronic conditions impact functional independence of older consumers that may or may not have additional physical disabilities (i.e. paralysis, blindness or deafness). A list of medications used for treatment of these conditions and other resources are provided for reference.
Section IX focuses on assistive technology (AT). It defines what assistive technology is, how it can be differentiated through categorization (low or high-tech), by the way it will be used (general or specific purpose), or by its availability (commercially or custom-made). It provides information on how to introduce and match the assistive technology to the older consumer. Funding resources for AT are provided.
Section X, XI, and XII focus on home modification, transportation and housing issues regarding the aging population. In most cases, problems in these areas and solutions involved interventions to compensate for age-related changes, chronic conditions or other disabilities.
Each section provides additional resources and references. Section XIII includes resources and references not previously sited in the individual chapters, such as books, catalogs, articles and web sites.
We hope you find this resource manual useful. Please call or contact the RRTC on Independent Living Management at (716) 836-0822 x 168 or the RERC on Technology for Successful Aging at (352) 273-6883 with any questions you may have.
Doug Usiak, RRTC Director
Bill Mann, RERC Director