|
Session Title: Evaluation Practice And Policy in Evidence Based Programming for Older Adults in Colorado: Experience of the Consortium for Older Adult Wellness (COAW)
|
|
Panel Session 235 to be held in Room 102 in the Convention Center on Thursday, Nov 6, 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM
|
|
Sponsored by the Health Evaluation TIG
|
| Chair(s): |
| Sharry Erzinger,
University of Colorado Denver,
sharry.erzinger@cudenver.edu
|
| Abstract:
The uncommon experience of reflecting on patterns of the past in order to develop implications for the future is allowed in this example of the network for establishing evidence based programs for older adults throughout Colorado. The Consortium for Older Adult Wellness (COAW) has a community based network of service providers who deliver the evidence based programs outside of the traditional medical system, and participate in the evaluation of their efforts. Policy implications of their efforts are described in this panel of papers.
|
|
Case History of How Consortium for Older Adult Wellness (COAW) Developed a Statewide Community Based Delivery Network to Serve Wellness Needs of Older Adults: The Role of Participatory Evaluation
|
| Chris Katzenmeyer,
Consortium for Older Adult Wellness,
ckatz12@msn.com
|
|
The Consortium for Older Adult Wellness (COAW) has established a network of community agencies that provides community- based wellness services to older adults throughout the state of Colorado. Evaluation has enabled COAW's rapid expansion over a relatively short period of time. Participatory evaluation has been integral to each successive stage of expansion. The participation of those implementing the program at the most local level throughout the state has contributed to establishing priorities, streamlining programming, and sharing of best practices in recruiting participants. Simultaneously, at regional and national levels, the need for policy that not only encourages but also pays for wellness services for older adults has created a receptive policy framework within which programs such as COAW can expand. The experience of COAW highlights the importance of maintaining an evaluation system for evidence based programs to broadly disseminate services to populations who need them.
|
|
|
Creating and Maintaining Local Support of Evaluation in the Consortium for Older Adult Wellness (COAW)
|
| Sharry Erzinger,
University of Colorado Denver,
sharry.erzinger@cudenver.edu
|
| Jean Scandlyn,
University of Colorado Denver,
jean.scandlyn@cudenver.edu
|
| Alisa Velonis,
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department,
|
|
At times the requirements and format of evaluation tools for evidence based programs conflict with the community based participatory nature of optimal programming for the target population of older adults, who have distinct opinions and preferences. Evaluation of the evidence based programs delivered by COAW and partners requires operationalizing a value of participation at the most local level, receptive to and respectful of alternative opinions while simultaneously adhering to the requirements for fidelity to the evidence based program. Pre-testing materials, designing user friendly formats and providing adequate tutoring to use the evaluation tools enhance the understanding of and support for evaluation at the most local level. Open, two way communication remains the most effective means by which local implementers of the program provide meaningful evaluative comments on adjustments that will benefit the overall design of the evaluation system.
| |
|
Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association in Steamboat Springs: the Aging Well Program as Partner with Consortium of Older Adult Wellness (COAW)
|
| Donna Hackley,
Northwest Visiting Nurse Association,
dhackley@nwcovna.org
|
|
The Aging Well Program expands the evidence based programs of COAW through combining best practices with innovative strategies and community participation to measurably improve the health and quality of life of older adults. The program strives to keep older adults healthy, safe and independent at home in their rural communities and uses specific measures directly related to the evaluation of evidence-based programs including Healthier Living (COAW's program).
Focused on prevention and wellness, Aging Well does not rely on traditional medical models of intervention that focus on frailty/disability and crisis management. Seeking to fundamentally re-frame the issue of health and healthcare, Aging Well seeks to develop an economically efficient and replicable system for effective delivery of social and health services to aging adults. Aging Well expands beyond the evaluation of COAW programs to develop an on-going monitoring strategy and evaluation framework that measures outcomes of its programs to reduce social isolation through community-based programs.
| |