Centers for Independent Living (CIL)

207 Pages·2005·1.97 MB·English

Centers for
Housing Independent
Living (CIL)
Pathfinder
Assistive Technology for Services &
Programs for
Older Americans
Transportation
Rehabilitation Research &
Training Center on Independent
Living Management
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
on Technology for Successful Aging
(RERC-Tech-Aging)
Modifications
© 2004 - RRTC on Independent Living Management, 3108 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214
[a member of the Western New York Independent Living Project, Inc. family of agencies]
Permission is given for duplication or reproduction either mechanically or electronically of any portion of
this manual, proving that the following credit is given: Reproduced by permission from materials developed by
the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Independent Living Management (RRTC-ILM).
This is a publication of the Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Independent
Living Management which is funded by the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research of the US Department of Education under grant number
H133B000002. The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee and do
not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Education.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgements

Grateful acknowledgement is made to the members of the Rehabilitation Research and
Training Center on Independent Living Management (RRTC-ILM) team in Buffalo, NY who
provided valuable comments and suggestions during the development of this resource manual:
Douglas Usiak, Maureen Moffat, John Moffat, Ron House, Mark Montgomery, and Vathsala Stone
and Machiko Tomita from the SUNY at Buffalo.
Special thanks to the staff of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology
for Successful Aging (RERC-Tech-Aging), the University of Florida in Gainesville, who assisted
on this project: William Mann for his guidance and suggestions, Jessica Johnson for assisting with
researching and co-writing the manual, and Elena Casson for her efforts in editing the manual. Also,
thanks go to Dennis McCarthy and Megan Witte for their unwavering support and to Minette
Hendler and Geraldine Ross, consumer models, for the manual’s cover page.
Tanks go to members of the aging network and independent living agencies for ideas
generated for this manual during a collaborative meeting held at the International Conference on
Aging in Washington, DC (Dec, 2003): Keri Benson, AoA, Margaret Campbell, NIDRR, James
Billy, RSA, Tomas Kelley, RSA, Gwen Gillenwater, NCIL, and Anne-Marie Hughey, NCIL.
And special acknowledgment goes to the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation
Research (NIDRR), US Department of Education for their support and funding of this project.
Linda F. Fraas, MA, OTR/L, ATP
Coordinator, RRTC-ILM Project 3-B Elder Transition
Principal writer, Centers for Independent Living (CIL) Pathfinder for Services & Programs
for Older Americans
Department of Rehabilitation Science
University at Buffalo
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents

Description Page
Forward 1
Introduction 3
Part I: The Older Americans Act 5
Part II: The Aging Network 11
Part III: Comparison of Older Americans Act and the Rehabilitation Act, 29
Title VII
Part IV: Comparison of the Area Agencies on Aging and Centers for 35
Independent Living
Part V: Comparative Analysis of Services / Programs Offered by the Area 39
Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living
Part VI: Possible Areas for AAA and CIL Collaboration 43
Part VII: Health Status of Older Americans 49
Part VIII: Chronic Conditions and Medications 69
Part IX: Assistive Technology 133
Part X: Home Modifications 153
Part XI: Transportation 175
Part XII: Housing 183
Part XIII: Helpful Resources and References 195
Forward
Douglas J. Usiak, Principal Investigator of the RRTC-ILM and a long time Executive
Director of the Western New York Independent Living Project, Inc. states… “In compiling and
reviewing the material in this document, I believe centers that have not explored the aging network
as a support for their mission and programming will find this manual to be a tremendous road map
in understanding the systems to be navigated and a useful resource to help them identify and plan
strategies to become an aging network partner. For those CILs who have identified the value of the
aging network, this document will be a confirmation of their efforts, and a resource to verify the
centers’ continuing efforts to promote the independent living philosophy among both the aging
institutional network and the elderly consumer with a disability, as we strive to provide longer
quality of life issues free from institutional care and restrictive environments.”
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Introduction

Te 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. Tose
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.
Trough 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.
Tis could translate into requiring additional funding through a fee-for-service approach or from
contracts with Area Agencies on Aging.
Tis resource manual “Te 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). Te 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. Te 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).
Tis 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.
Tis 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). Te Area Agencies on Aging are responsible for
identifying and developing programs that meet the specific needs of the senior population living in
their area.
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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 [phone] x 168 or the RERC on Technology for Successful Aging at
[phone] with any questions you may have.
Doug Usiak, RRTC Director Bill Mann, RERC Director
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