International Rural Aging Project

Invited Symposia

Community Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology in Rural Areas for Elderly Persons with Disability

Convener: Reuben Eldar, Raanana, Israel
Head of the Feischman Unit for the Study of Disability, Loewenstein Rehabilitation Centre (A WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Based Rehabilitation)

Date: Friday, June 9
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Parlor B, Civic Center

Abstract
The symposium will be based on the knowledge that in rural areas the attainment of rehabilitation goals for elderly persons with disability meets obstacles and difficulties. These are due to:

• Lack of rehabilitation services and professionals 

• Unsuitability of assistive technology to the physical and economic environments. 

The symposium will consist of presentations that will discuss ways for the improvement of rehabilitation in these areas through: 

• Use of resources available in the community 

• Provision of appropriate technology suitable for rural areas. 

These presentations will describe activities that have worked in various regions and resulted in the prevention of disability and its rehabilitation.

Introduction
Reuben Eldar

Elderly Persons with Orthopaedic Impairments in Rural Areas
Helena Burger, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Maintaining Functional Status of Rural Elders with Disabilities
Mary Ann Rosswurm, Charleston, West Virginia, US

Maintaining and Furthering Rehabilitation Gains Among Disabled Rural Elders
Linda J. Redford, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, US

The Burden of Avoidable Blindness is Borne by Rural Peoples in Economically Developing Nations
J. Vernon Odom, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, US

Continuing Education Credits
WV Social Work: 1.5 hrs
1.5 AMA Category 1 CME