award number: 08-60-01012
start-end date: October 1, 2001 - September 30, 2003
total project cost: $413,048
federal share: $201,611
contact: Ms. Lisa Scranton
address: 804 South Main Street
Lamar, CO 81052
phone: (719) 336-9511
e-mail: matkowski@lamarhousing.org
Project Description:
The Lamar Housing Authority will install computer labs for elderly persons
in three public housing complexes in Lamar, Colorado. The network will allow
the elderly to access information related to their healthcare needs. In addition,
elderly public housing residents will be able to communicate directly with
local doctors, healthcare professionals, nurses, community service organizations,
and faculty at Lamar Community College. The elderly will be given the opportunity
to participate in special distance-learning programs designed to help them
stay active and alert as they age. Additionally, six elderly residents will
serve as mentors and will receive extensive training on the use of computers
and the system.
Project Significance:
Surveys of the elderly reveal that their biggest fear is losing their independence.
This project will seek to delay or eliminate inappropriate placement of the
elderly in nursing homes by introducing them to advanced technology and showing
them how it can be used to address their health care needs and allow them
to take courses and keep them mentally active and alert. Nationwide, nursing
home beds are filled to capacity, and long-term care of nursing home patients
is expensive, costing an average of $42,000 annually for Medicaid eligible
residents. The concept of using technology to help elderly live independently
longer and linking them to medical services and educational opportunities
is innovative and replicable in communities across the nation.
Partners:
The Lamar Housing Authority will partner with Lamar
Community College, Colorado
Mobile Inet, High Plains Health
Center, and PMC Home Health
Care.
additional project resources:
Project Narrative--PDF Version
If you have any questions, please contact:
Lamar Housing Authority
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