| Learning Objective #1: Verbalize the process for developing a partnership in a community setting. | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify case management as a strategy to assist older adults to live in their community of choice. |
Method: The investigators met with the town leaders and the administrators of a senior center to gain support. The purposive sample consisted of eight adults, ages 60 to 90, Caucasian and female, alert, oriented, and English speaking. Throughout the multiple phases of data collection, the investigators were equal partners with participants in designing the case management project. Focus group methodology was used, interviews were taped and field notes were kept. Content analysis incorporated a sequential and systematic process. All focus groups tapes were transcribed into written texts. Each investigator read the text for an overview, highlighted statements of importance, and then together shared their work as well as developed themes from the statements. Finally, the investigators shared these themes with participants for verification. Demographic data on all participants as well as data on available supports, health status, morbidity, and use of community services was also gathered.
Results: The content analysis of the focus groups revealed themes pertaining to community support services which included: medicare/insurance, transportation, and community services. Some of the interventions included: bringing in a Medicare speaker monthly, investigating transportation options and drug store delivery services, convenient community seating sites for older adults, medication education programs, safety-proofing homes and scheduled one-on- one case management services.
Conclusion: The data revealed the problems older adults experience as they attempt to live in their chosen communities. The use of a partnership action research design facilitated the development of case management interventions that were designed by participants to deal directly with their needs. Participants verbalized their satisfaction with the services that they themselves had a role in developing and implementing.
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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)