ABOUT THE RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER
Description:
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Aging
With a Disability is funded by the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), a part of the U.S. Department of Education.
There are about 40 such Centers, all of which focus on a specific problem
affecting people who have a disability. This RRTC is a collaborative effort
of Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center and the University of Southern California.
The purposes of the Center are 1) to conduct research in our problem area,
2) to train others about findings in this area as well as how to conduct
rehabilitation research, and 3) to disseminate information to consumers
and professionals.
The Issue:
One of the most important changes in the United States over the last 50
years has been the rapid increase in the number of people living into their
70s, 80s and beyond. Today, average life expectancy is 78 years compared
to 47 years in 1900. All persons are displaying increased longevity, including
people who sustained a disability at some point earlier in their lives.
While it used to be thought a condition such as polio or cerebral palsy
was static after its initial onset, evidence has shown that many people
experience the onset of new medical, functional, social and psychological
problems as they age. Muscle weakness, fatigue, pain, heart disease, respiratory
infection, as well as premature job loss, discouragement, and worry have
all been reported. Until recently, little research focused on understanding
or treating these problems. Unless we have better diagnostic and assessment
tools, better understanding of the processes involved and better ideas of
what to do and how to help, we won't reduce the impact of aging on people
who have a disability.
Consumer Dissemination:
A unique feature of this RRTC is its strong emphasis on getting useful and
current information to people with disabilities and their families. These
audiences are the ultimate beneficiaries of the RRTC's efforts. A variety
of techniques are being used to disseminate information including articles
in consumer publications, presentations at consumer meetings, computer network
bulletin boards, distribution of updates on current research and publication
of a resource manual.