Table Of ContentDesigning Technology
Training for Older
Adults in Continuing
Care Retirement
Communities
Published Titles
Designing Technology Training for Older Adults in Continuing Care
Retirement Communities
Shelia R. Cotten, Elizabeth A. Yost, Ronald W. Berkowsky, Vicki Winstead, and
William A. Anderson
Designing Training and Instructional Programs for Older Adults
Sara J. Czaja and Joseph Sharit
Designing Telehealth for an Aging Population: A Human Factors Perspective
Neil Charness, George Demiris, and Elizabeth Krupinski
Designing Displays for Older Adults
Richard Pak and Anne McLaughlin
Designing for Older Adults: Principles and Creative Human Factors
Approaches, Second Edition
Arthur D. Fisk, Wendy A. Rogers, Neil Charness, Sara J. Czaja, and Joseph Sharit
Human Factors
Aging Series
&
Designing Technology
Training for Older
Adults in Continuing
Care Retirement
Communities
Shelia R. Cotten
Elizabeth A. Yost
Ronald W. Berkowsky
Vicki Winstead
William A. Anderson
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2017 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
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Version Date: 20161027
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Cotten, Shelia R.
Title: Designing technology training for older adults in continuing care
retirement communities / Shelia R. Cotten, Elizabeth A. Yost, Ronald W.
Berkowsky, Vicki Winstead and William A. Anderson.
Description: Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, 2017. | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016029415 | ISBN 9781498718127 (pbk.)
Subjects: LCSH: Computers and older people. | Internet and older people. |
Retirement communities--Activity programs.
Classification: LCC QA76.9.O43 C67 2017 | DDC 004.084/6--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016029415
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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We dedicate this book to all of the CCRC residents who
participated in our study—many had never used a
computer before, and they inspired us with their determination
while making us laugh and filling our (work) days with
joy. Without them, this book would not be possible.
Contents
Preface .............................................................................................................. xiii
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................ xvii
Authors .............................................................................................................xix
Chapter 1 Introduction and purpose ......................................................... 1
1.1 Importance of technology use for older adults in
continuing care retirement communities............................................. 1
1.2 Aging population demographics .......................................................... 2
1.2.1 Global trends .............................................................................. 2
1.2.2 U.S. trends ................................................................................... 6
1.3 Value of technology for increasing quality of life for
older adults ......................................................................................... 9
1.4 Technology use among older adults ..................................................... 9
1.5 Residential communities for older adults .......................................... 11
1.6 Objectives for the book ......................................................................... 12
Recommended readings .................................................................................. 13
Demographics of aging ......................................................................... 13
ICT use .................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 2 Continuing care retirement communities and
the need for technology training........................................... 15
2.1 The CCRC model ................................................................................... 15
2.2 Historical development of CCRCs....................................................... 17
2.2.1 Statistics on independent living communities
and assisted living communities........................................... 18
2.2.2 Independent versus assisted living....................................... 18
2.2.3 Care community analogues abroad...................................... 20
2.3 The stress of transition.......................................................................... 22
2.3.1 Adjusting to the transition ..................................................... 23
2.3.2 The impacts on social interactions and relationships ........ 25
2.4 Older adults and technology usage .................................................... 26
2.4.1 Barriers to usage among older adults in a CCRC................ 28
vii
viii Contents
2.4.2 Technology use and connection to modern society ........... 29
Recommended readings .................................................................................. 31
More about CCRCs ................................................................................ 31
Technology use among older adults ................................................... 31
Chapter 3 A prototype study ..................................................................... 33
3.1 The idea for the study ........................................................................... 33
3.2 Gaining entrance ................................................................................... 34
3.3 Selecting the right context .................................................................... 35
3.4 Preparation ............................................................................................. 36
3.4.1 Assistive devices ...................................................................... 38
3.4.2 Recruiting ................................................................................. 40
3.5 Staging the intervention: where, when, and how to set up
the training sessions .............................................................................. 41
3.5.1 Where: find lots of room ......................................................... 41
3.5.2 When: scheduling and fitting into CCRC schedules .......... 44
3.5.3 How: reducing distractions and frustrations—making
it a good experience ................................................................. 46
3.6 Implementation ...................................................................................... 47
3.7 Retention ................................................................................................. 49
3.8 Assessment ............................................................................................. 51
3.9 Lessons learned ..................................................................................... 52
Recommended readings .................................................................................. 53
Chapter 4 Complexities of and best practices for implementing
technology training in continuing care retirement
communities ............................................................................... 55
4.1 Understanding the learner ................................................................... 56
4.1.1 Physical health and mobility of older learners .................... 57
4.1.2 Dexterity and visual and hearing ability ............................. 58
4.1.3 Cognitive ability ...................................................................... 59
4.2 Organizing the environment ............................................................... 61
4.2.1 Physical layout of the classroom............................................ 61
4.2.2 Scheduling: “You don’t mess with bingo” ........................... 63
4.3 Ensuring the proper equipment .......................................................... 64
4.4 Designing and presenting the content ............................................... 67
4.4.1 To lecture or not to lecture ..................................................... 68
4.4.2 Taking the content home ........................................................ 68
4.5 Engaging and motivating participants ............................................... 70
4.5.1 Training the trainer ................................................................. 70
4.5.2 The importance of a supportive teaching team .................. 71
4.5.3 Practice makes perfect ............................................................ 72
Contents ix
4.5.4 Ask your neighbor—promoting a community
where residents help one another ......................................... 73
4.6 Other considerations ............................................................................. 75
4.6.1 The importance of engaged activity directors .................... 75
4.6.2 Enabling the older adult to adapt to rapidly
changing technology ............................................................... 76
4.6.3 Expecting attrition ................................................................... 78
4.7 Summary of best practices ................................................................... 79
Recommended readings .................................................................................. 82
Chapter 5 Value of technology training .................................................. 83
5.1 Changing attitudes and self-efficacy .................................................. 84
5.1.1 Attitudes toward ICTs ............................................................. 85
5.1.2 Self-efficacy ............................................................................... 88
5.2 Technology use across the study ......................................................... 90
5.3 Quality of life outcomes ....................................................................... 94
5.3.1 Depression and loneliness ...................................................... 94
5.3.2 Psychological well-being ........................................................ 96
5.3.3 Spatial and social barriers and connecting with others ........ 97
5.3.4 Case study—Ms. W.: Transcending spatial and
social barriers ........................................................................... 98
5.4 Tech training and understanding as a benefit unto itself ................ 99
5.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 101
Recommended readings ................................................................................ 101
Chapter 6 Recruiting and retaining older adults in
technology training programs ............................................. 103
6.1 Recruitment .......................................................................................... 103
6.1.1 Recruitment sessions ............................................................. 106
6.1.1.1 Formal recruitment sessions ............................... 106
6.1.1.2 Using family council or other
community meetings ........................................... 109
6.1.1.3 Informal recruitment sessions ............................ 109
6.1.2 Special considerations for recruiting in
research settings .................................................................... 110
6.1.3 Recruiting at different care levels of the CCRC ................ 112
6.2 Retention ................................................................................................113
6.2.1 Needs ........................................................................................114
6.2.2 Building rapport .....................................................................115
6.2.3 Class time .................................................................................116
6.2.4 Office hours .............................................................................119
6.3 The role of the activity director in recruitment and retention ...... 120
