Designing, Implementing and Assessing an Internet Adoption Program for Senior Housing

[Commentary] There are three essential elements in the design and implementation of an effective broadband adoption program for seniors living in senior housing communities and for their surrounding neighborhoods.

The first element involves the establishment of a solid base line of information on each given community which can function as a starting point. This will include: 1) demographic and background data on the senior population; 2) questionnaires on their existing familiarity with and use of typewriters, computers and the Internet; and 3) surveys of their initial thoughts on how computers and the Internet might be useful to them and which Internet skills they would like to develop.

The second element involves the "intervention strategies," the approaches and programs used to raise the awareness levels of seniors with respect to the personal and practical benefits that can result from the broadband/Internet skills and applications. It also involves offline and on-line education training most effective in developing those skills.

The third element involves ongoing and post-program evaluation. What Internet skills were actually developed? How are the skills being used? Was there testing? Did "offline" seniors become online Internet subscribers? What did it take/cost to convert a previously offline senior to an active user with an Internet account: A certification of a "driver's license" level of computer/Internet competence for travel on the information superhighway? The personal ownership of an Internet device and broadband connectivity? What can be done to make awareness raising efforts, the education and training and the sustained use of the Internet more efficient and fun? How can the overall process be improved? How can it become more cost-effective. Were the increases in the appreciation and use of the Internet results justified by the costs?