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A Public-Private

21^st Century Lifestyles Community Center

and Community Education Program

 

by Frank Odasz frank@lone-eagles.com

 

Online at http://lone-eagles.com/centers1.htm

The Need:
For economic stability local, state, and federal agencies need staff training and systemic change to lower costs and improve their efficiency with service delivery to disabled and aging citizens. Best practices using broadband, social media, home telecare, and other new tools require continual innovation and updating to keep pace with the accelerating level of change across all sectors of government and society. Those who are unable to keep up, need personal mentors who can help them address their needs. Needed is a new form of community learning institution maintaining continual high visibility for best practices to counter the typical resistance to innovation and change by rural agencies and citizens.

 

In addition to providing training for agency staff addressing fundamental systemic change, a train-the-trainers program will be created for seniors and individuals with disabilities, capable and interested in both volunteering in return for broadband empowerment skills training. Those who can demonstrate measurable outcomes will be offered an apprenticeship for developing their own individual telecare service for-profit businesses which will provide a much needed human resource base for statewide government agencies, service businesses, citizens and entrepreneurs.

 

Defining a New Model for 21^st Century Community Learning Centers.

 

1. The latest technologies for 3G and 4G handheld devices and specific applications will provide an exciting opportunity for all Hawaiian citizens to learn what’s now possible and what’s becoming possible.  Learning to create applications for handheld devices is a booming opportunity for entrepreneurs.
2. Elearning innovation using Internet video and peer mentors has vast potential for keeping citizens informed and provision of continual retraining and support for entrepreneurism.
3. A Clearinghouse of Best Practices by agency and sector and region with a citizen evaluation component has become a fundamental necessity. Despite booming innovations at many levels, there is no one place to discover what’s now possible and who is leading with cutting edge innovations. At statewide level there is no process for keeping everyone up to the same instant of process. Too often, agency staff become wedded to antiquated methods and actively resist the introduction of new ideas and change in general – to the detriment of their clients.

Seniors, ranging from those quite able and ready to learn new skills, to those with diminished capacity, can be paired to produce many win-win situations, enhancing social bonds, lowering costs, and overall resulting in better care and lifestyles for all concerned.

 

Many benefits of broadband need to be demonstrated, taught, and where necessary, provided as mentored services such as: Learning to shop online, online interaction with local businesses, (such as grocery delivery) without the need for transportation, access to health information as well as healthcare providers via low cost two-way video and use of myriad home telecare devices needs to become mainstream and eliminate the lag time between documented innovations and widespread applications.

 

Seniors need meaningful activities to minimize risks of depression. Social media is a solution to social isolation. Seniors need regular incentives for mental exercise and everyone can learn to enjoy the social satisfaction of providing encouragement to others.

 

We are all getting older, and 1/5 of all seniors suffer from some type of disability whether it is failing hearing, eyesight, mobility or other limitations. We all wish to live independently as long as possible to avoid the outlandish costs of assisted living and rest homes, not to mention the defeat of being warehoused without a useful role as part of society.

 

Geek Squads for and by Seniors:
There are growing needs for technology support for seniors at many levels. Targeted onsite, online, training and services are needed and are economically sustainable.

 

Many broadband applications are extremely motivating for seniors such as 2 way video with grandchildren, family, and each other, even multisite video conferencing is available free online (oovoo.com)  Sharing online photo albums, narrated photoslideshows and much more need to be demonstrated and set-up services provided to allow all seniors to enjoy these stimulating opportunities enabled by broadband.

 

Keeping seniors as active members of the 21^st Century workforce demands flexibility. Retired teachers can teach English worldwide using Skype as social entrepreneurs.The Internet has fueled a boom in entrepreneurial innovation and the trends suggest the stage is set for an acceleration of unlimited innovation; Social enterprises, social entrepreneurship, viral social media businesses.

 

The Pew Foundation research on Internet and American Life cites seniors as the fastest growing demographic on facebook. All federal agencies and many other local, state and philanthropic entities are embracing facebook, twitter, elearning and related new forms of customer relationship management and support.

 

Rural Innovation diffusion requires unique imaginative approaches for rural, native, disabled, and seniors. An approach that fits with their worldviews, cultures, and social backgrounds is needed.