SENIORS HELPING SENIORS: TRAINING LOW-INCOME BLACK ELDERLY TO COPE WITH COLD WEATHER ENERGY- AND HOUSING-RELATED PROBLEMS.
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Title
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SENIORS HELPING SENIORS: TRAINING LOW-INCOME BLACK ELDERLY TO COPE WITH COLD WEATHER ENERGY- AND HOUSING-RELATED PROBLEMS.
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Identifier
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AAI8302528
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identifier
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8302528
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Creator
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LUCKEY, IRENE.
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Contributor
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Simon Slavin
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Date
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1982
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work
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Abstract
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The Seniors Helping Seniors Cope With Cold Weather Energy- and Housing-Related Problems--as is reported in this abstract--was a project designed to help low-income elderly deal with cold weather and housing problems. This project attempted to increase low-income seniors' access to relevant services, information and programs by providing necessary information to them through their peers who were trained as energy aides in senior centers. The project utilized the self-help concept as the basic unifying concept upon which the project was built.;The project was conducted in four senior centers located in predominately black communities in New York City. The particular senior centers chosen to participate in the project were the Mary McLeod Bethune Senior Center and the Wilson Major Morris Senior Center, both located in the Central Harlem section of Manhattan; the Fort Greene Senior Center, Fort Greene section of Brooklyn; and the St. Louis Senior Center, Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.;Evaluation strategies used to assess the program were before-and-after intervention measurements and observation. Measurements were taken from directors and staff, trainees and general center membership. In-person interviews were used to obtain data from directors, staff and trainees. Closed-ended questions on a questionnaire were administered to the general center population.;Findings of the project suggested that seniors who are moderately active in the centers' activities appeared to gain higher potential satisfaction from the experience of being trainees and subsequently energy aides. The time sessions were scheduled for the seniors' convenience. However, preparations for lunch and lunch time itself resulted in negative impacts on the training sessions. Training sessions held over a period of seven weeks allowed time for group cohesion to develop and consequently a higher degree of interest and involvement from trainees was generated. Active involvement of director and staff enhanced this project's success. Trainees were most comfortable presenting information to center members in group presentations rather than on a one-to-one basis. Center members did not seek the energy aides' assistance on an individual basis.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
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Program
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Social Welfare
