SPRY/NIH CONFERENCE PRESENTATION: October 2, 2003 Cyber Seniors / Cyber Teens “Cyber Health” An intergenerational approach to improving the health of older adults Cyber Seniors / Cyber Teens “Cyber Health” An intergenerational approach to improving the health of older adults Elizabeth Isele, Founder & President, CyberSeniors.org Lawrence B. Schiamberg, Michigan State University

Need for Intergenerational Perspective  Programs enlisting intergenerational resources of communities provide opportunities for serving needs of multiple generations, including older adults.  Intergenerational programs provide support for older adult caregiving by linking generations in social tasks and responsibilities, which  enhance older adult health and  continue success of ongoing caregiving

CyberSeniors/CyberTeens: CyberSeniors/CyberTeens: Exemplary Program for Bridging Digital & Generational Divides  Provides training in computer & internet skills to older adults by youth  Unique partnership among AARP/National Retired Teachers Assoc, USDA/4-H, and CyberSeniors.org  Created to empower seniors through purposeful use of technology for: Achieving better health Fostering lifelong learning

CyberHealthCyberHealth  Specific health education program designed to promote health literacy and healthy lifestyles among 2 segments of population: seniors & young people.  Special focus of CS/CT  Majority of older adult healthcare consumers left out of educational loop due to:  lack of computer skills  health care information often beyond lay person’s understanding –

CS/CT Objectives  Fostering older adult independence  Overarching goal is to demonstrate how access to Internet’s information resources, and increased communication between seniors and their communities can help equip them to: retain their independence retain their dignity retain their purpose retain their long-term mental & physical well-being retain their sense of community

CS/CT Objectives  Computer literacy provides seniors with a “window to the world,” that can reduce social isolation by: increasing social connections (major factor in elder health & well-being) fostering real-life communication and relationships between teens and seniors teaching seniors how to use Internet to connect with people of all ages online in a supportive virtual community.

CS/CT Objectives  By utilizing the unlimited access to educational resources through the Internet, CS/CT enhances healthcare opportunities and ongoing caregiving efforts for older adults. CS/CT promotes health literacy, including awareness of quality healthcare CS/CT enhances health-seeking behaviors

CS/CT Objectives  By creating a dynamic of intergenerational collaboration between seniors and teens in CS/CT workshops, the program contributes to positive youth development by: fostering self-efficacy promoting social/citizenship skills encouraging healthy lifestyle development

The MSU CS/CT Project The ongoing MSU CS/CT Project has the following objectives:  Measuring outcomes in 3 diverse Michigan communities: urban (Detroit, inner city), suburban, and rural Upper Peninsula  Evaluating changes in intergenerational attitudes (youth toward seniors, and vice versa)  Evaluating development of older adult computer literacy, including Internet skills  Measuring social capital formation. How do the intergenerational relationships forged in the CS/CT project promote social connectedness, attachment to others, social trust and investment?

CyberHealth An intergenerational, Web-based health literacy program designed to teach Seniors: How to Find, Evaluate and Use Online Health Resources to Become Informed Health Consumers Recipient of the 2003 ASA/MetLife Foundation “MIND ALERT” Award Recipient of a Silver Medal in the 2003 National Health Information Awards

CyberHealth This Teacher-Facilitated, Web-based Workshop Is Designed to Teach Seniors How to Use the Internet’s Resources To: Become informed health consumers Take a more proactive role in their healthcare Modify their health behaviors Work in partnership with their healthcare providers to make more informed healthcare decisions

CyberHealth Goals: Teach Seniors how to find, evaluate and use online health resources. Motivate and empower Seniors with the knowledge and skills necessary to change their health behaviors. Measure the affect of access to online health information and resources on changing health behaviors.

CyberHealth Behavior change is a process and the following theories were utilized in the creation of CyberHealth to address individuals at varying stages of motivation or readiness: Stages of Change Model Health Belief Model Consumer Information Processing Theory

CyberHealth Each online workbook page is hyperlinked to the actual online resource. Easy navigation from page to page and chapter to chapter within the workbook. Easy navigation between the workbook and live Web pages and back to the workbook.

Online Workbook Opening Page:

Online Workbook Contents Page:

Online Workbook Contents Page 2:

Online Workbook Contents Page 3:

Online Workbook Opening Page (Spanish):

Online Workbook Contents Page (Spanish):

Online Workbook Page:

Research Questions to Be Addressed include: Does a Senior’s/Young Person’s health change after taking CyberHealth? Does access to health information change participants’ health seeking behaviors? Does access to health information change participants’ attitudes towards their healthcare?

Does participation in this intergenerational workshop change seniors’ attitudes towards young people? Does participation in this intergenerational workshop change youths’ attitudes towards elders? Will youth alter their health behaviors after seeing the manifestation of those behaviors in the seniors with whom they are working?

How does access to health information and other online resources change participants’ relationships to doctors? Does the challenging mental exercise involved in learning the technology have a positive affect on the health of the brain? What are the barriers to finding relevant health information online?

How does the real-life, intergenerational workshop setting affect Seniors’ emotional well-being? Does access to online communication reduce Seniors’ sense of isolation, loneliness and depression? Will participants continue to access health information online six weeks after the workshop; twelve months after the workshop; two years after the workshop?

Imbedded Survey Demographic Information Computer Skills/Usage Questions Health-Related Questions

Demographic Information

Health-Related Questions

19. How much control do you think you have over your health ? Very little Some Quite a lot Very much

26. Why did you first begin to look for health information online? I was diagnosed with a new health problem I was looking for ways to help treat my chronic disease Someone I know was diagnosed with a new disease I wanted to change my diet I wanted to find a good exercise program I wanted to find out about a new prescription I wanted to learn more about my upcoming surgery I wanted to check my doctor’s reputation I wanted to find a good hospital Other (please specify)

28. When you go online to look for health information, how often are you able to locate the information you want? Always Most often Sometimes Hardly ever Never

29. Do you think the health information you find online is easy to read and understand? Always Often Sometimes Hardly ever Never

30. To what degree do you trust the health information you find on the Internet? 100% 75% 50% 25% 10% Don't trust any health information on the Internet.

33. How much has finding health information on the Internet improved the way you take care of your health? A lot Quite a bit Some A little Not much Not at all

37. On average, how many sites do you visit before you find the information you want? One Two Three Six Hardly ever find it Never find it

41. Do you take the information you've printed out with you when you go to see you doctor? Always Often Sometimes Hardly ever Never

47. In which of the following ways, if any, did the information you found online affect your health or health care? (Please check all that apply) Affect a decision about how to treat an illness or condition Change your attitude towards your health care provider Affect a decision about surgery Change your approach to your own health maintenance Affect the way you cope with a chronic condition Affect the way you manage pain Change the way you think about diet, exercise, stress Affect the ways in which you pay for your healthcare Change your attitude about support groups Other (please specify)

How to Launch CyberSeniorsCyberTeens in Your Community ?

It Takes A Plan ! Vision Access to the Technology Computer Competency Training – Teachers (Adults and Youth) – Senior Participants Meaningful Content Funding Evaluation and Assessment Sustainability

Community Effort Volunteers Transportation Access to Computers Content Connectivity Technical Support Evaluation and Research

Let us help you launch a CyberSeniorsCyberTeens CyberHealth program in your community! Call us toll-free at Or visit our Website

Bridging the Digital and Generational Divide Building Healthy 21st Century Communities!