1

The Golden Age of Retirement – The Golden Age of Retirement – Creating Inclusive Options for Creating Inclusive Options for Aging Persons with Intellectual Aging Persons with Intellectual

DisabilitiesDisabilities

2

Israel Elwyn

Founded in 1984 at the initiative of the Municipality of Jerusalem and the Government of Israel, Israel Elwyn (IE) was the first program of Elwyn Inc. (USA) outside the United States. A non-profit organization registered in Israel (Amuta), IE today serves more than 1600 children and adults with special needs -- Israeli and Palestinian alike.

3

ServicesServices::

• Early Intervention ServicesEarly Intervention Services• Preschools and Special EducationPreschools and Special Education• Residential ServicesResidential Services• Supported LivingSupported Living• Occupational Training CentersOccupational Training Centers• Supported EmploymentSupported Employment• Small Business DevelopmentSmall Business Development• Vocational Training/Job PlacementVocational Training/Job Placement

4

Distribution of Adult Services in Distribution of Adult Services in W. JerusalemW. Jerusalem

95

140

200

50

20

Adult Day ProgramWorkshopsSupported JobsBusiness UnitsRetiree Program

5

The Development of a Retirement The Development of a Retirement Program for Aging Individuals with Program for Aging Individuals with

Special NeedsSpecial Needs

6

Consumer DrivenConsumer Driven::

About five years ago, Meir, a nearly sixty-year-old man with developmental disabilities in Israel Elwyn’s occupational training center approached management with a specialized request. He was tired of working, and asked for the opportunity to retire.

7

Consumer Driven, Con’tConsumer Driven, Con’t::

His reasoning:His reasoning:• It was getting harder and harder to sit for long It was getting harder and harder to sit for long

periods of timeperiods of time• His ability to concentrate on work became His ability to concentrate on work became

more difficultmore difficult• The workplace noise bothered himThe workplace noise bothered him

In short, he wanted a chance to retire, without In short, he wanted a chance to retire, without giving up the social and recreational benefits giving up the social and recreational benefits he found through work.he found through work.

8

MeirMeir

9

Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment::

Group DiscussionsGroup Discussions Rehabilitation staff undertook a process Rehabilitation staff undertook a process

of discussions with persons in the of discussions with persons in the occupational training center. The occupational training center. The purpose of the interviews was to purpose of the interviews was to

ascertain if Meir’s expressed need was ascertain if Meir’s expressed need was shared by others. Those indicating shared by others. Those indicating such a need were encouraged to such a need were encouraged to

discuss this with their case manager.discuss this with their case manager.

10

Needs Assessment cont’dNeeds Assessment cont’d::

Individual DiscussionsIndividual Discussions Those individuals who expressed an Those individuals who expressed an

interest were individually interviewed, interest were individually interviewed, during which specific content areas were during which specific content areas were discussed regarding how the individual discussed regarding how the individual sees him or herself in a post-work sees him or herself in a post-work environment. The individual’s needs environment. The individual’s needs and preferences were discussed as well and preferences were discussed as well as the time, place and content of the as the time, place and content of the proposed retirement programproposed retirement program

11

Statistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis::

Age Breakdown --

Occupational Training Center

28%

45%

27%21+

30+

50+

n = 140

12

Statistical Analysis Statistical Analysis cont’dcont’d::

Age Breakdown --

Supported Employment

33%

54%

13%

21+

30+

50+

n = 200

13

Statistical Analysis Statistical Analysis cont’dcont’d::

Breakdown by Living Type (All

Ages) Occupational Training

Center

40%

60%

With Parents Community Living

14

Statistical Analysis Statistical Analysis cont’dcont’d::

Breakdown by Living Type (All

Ages) Supported Employment

50%50%

With Parents Community Living

15

Statistical Analysis Statistical Analysis cont’dcont’d::

Breakdown by Living Type

(Aged 50+) Occupational

Training Center

25%

75%

With Parents Community Living

16

Statistical Analysis Statistical Analysis cont’dcont’d::

Breakdown by Living Type

(Aged 50+) Supported

Employment

35%

65%

With Parents Community Living

17

An additional factor in An additional factor in developing the programdeveloping the program::

An unfortunate, but relevant, fact encountered was the resistance of community senior centers to accepting aging individuals with developmental disabilities

18

Theoretical BasisTheoretical Basis::The project was designed with Heller and Sutton’s means of empowerment of the individual with special needs:

•Self-Advocacy

•Self determination

•Decision making

•Self oriented

•Problem Solving

19

Program Development – Program Development – Supported EmployeesSupported Employees

The model that was created for retirees from supported and competitive employment takes into consideration their desire to remain active as before. These individuals generally were not interested in retirement options within the occupational training center. They preferred to be involved in volunteer options at hospitals, day centers, etc.

20

Program Development – Supported Program Development – Supported Employees – Employees – AccommodationsAccommodations

• 13% of the supported employees are over 50 13% of the supported employees are over 50 years-oldyears-old

• These These agingaging individuals with special needs and individuals with special needs and with intellectual disabilities manifest reduced with intellectual disabilities manifest reduced functioning and productivity, limited concentration functioning and productivity, limited concentration ability, difficulties in performing tasks, fatigue and ability, difficulties in performing tasks, fatigue and more frequent absences due to health issuesmore frequent absences due to health issues

• Main support: modifying vocational expectations Main support: modifying vocational expectations from the worker, making new accommodations from the worker, making new accommodations such as less demanding work hours, simpler work such as less demanding work hours, simpler work tasks, reduced productivity expectations and tasks, reduced productivity expectations and physical accommodations at the work placephysical accommodations at the work place

21

• For those workers for whom the For those workers for whom the accommodations at work were not of value accommodations at work were not of value or who wished to discontinue workingor who wished to discontinue working

• These These agingaging individuals with special needs individuals with special needs and with intellectual disabilities chose to and with intellectual disabilities chose to volunteer at community services such as volunteer at community services such as hospitals, senior centers and preschools.hospitals, senior centers and preschools.

• In this way these individuals were able to In this way these individuals were able to continue their community involvement and continue their community involvement and not resort to a more sheltered environmentnot resort to a more sheltered environment

Program Development – Supported Program Development – Supported Employees – Employees – Community Service Community Service (Volunteering)(Volunteering)

22

Program Development – Program Development – Workshop RetireesWorkshop Retirees

For retirees from the workshop, a model was created which approximated community senior center models, but, for now, within the Occupational Training Center

23

Program Development – Program Development – Retiree ProgramRetiree Program

• Creation of a specific retiree group

•The group included:

•Preparing the group for the transition

•Employment of a professional with expertise in the field of seniors

•Development of meaningful program content which allows for maintaining skills and developing new ones

24

Program Development – Program Development – Examples of ContentExamples of Content::

• Improving and maintaining interpersonal communication skills

• Decision making in day-to-day life

• Activities such as exercise, physical therapy, occupational therapy, Shiatsu, arts and crafts, therapeutic gardening, zootherapy, etc.

25

Photos of the groupPhotos of the group

26

AndAnd : :

27

AndAnd : :

28

Day DescriptionDay Description::

The retirement program operates 5 days per week, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Each retiree has the right to choose, within this framework, how much time he or she wishes to spend there, and in what activities to participate, according to his needs and abilities .

29

Program structureProgram structure

• Morning meetingMorning meeting• Different activity opportunitiesDifferent activity opportunities• Daily routineDaily routine• Modest pensionModest pension• StaffStaff

30

A very short film:A very short film:

31

Program Assessment and Program Assessment and EvaluationEvaluation

• Feedback forms including Feedback forms including collecting specific comments and collecting specific comments and quantitative resultsquantitative results

• Intermediate AssessmentIntermediate Assessment• Means of future assessment and Means of future assessment and

evaluation: including research and evaluation: including research and additional feedback mechanismsadditional feedback mechanisms

32

Future PlansFuture Plans::

• Opening a community day center

•Contact with and intake from senior centers in the community

•Expansion of program to additional geographic locations

33

מרכז יום לגימלאים עם צרכים מיוחדים

קרן שלם

המוסד לביטוח לאומי

עירית ירושלים

משרד הרווחה

אלווין ישראל

רחוב בורוכוב, קרית היובל ירושלים

אדריכלים ומתכנני ערים אבנר סימון סלמה מילסון ארד

DAY CENTER FOR RETIRED PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

BOROCHOV ST. KIRYAT HA-YOVEL , JERUSALEM

Salmah Milson Arad Avner Simon Architects and Urban Planners

34

םאי

למ

לגם

יוז

רכמ

תוכנית סביבה- מצב קיים2

בית כנסת

מגורים

מגורים מגוריםמגורים

גן ילדים להריסה

חצר

35

םאי

למ

גילם

יוז

רכמ

מבטים אקסונומטריים22

36

Future Plans: Senior Future Plans: Senior CenterCenter

• Located in a residential neighborhood in Located in a residential neighborhood in JerusalemJerusalem

• Interaction with neighbors (e.g. Interaction with neighbors (e.g. volunteers, coffee shop) – this volunteers, coffee shop) – this neighborhood has two “regular” senior neighborhood has two “regular” senior centers with which we hope to have centers with which we hope to have regular interactionregular interaction

• 50 seniors to be served there50 seniors to be served there• Two stories – higher functioning seniors Two stories – higher functioning seniors

upstairsupstairs• Therapy rooms on both floorsTherapy rooms on both floors

37

Problems and issues encountered Problems and issues encountered during program developmentduring program development

• Government recognition: policies, reimbursement rules – fitting the program into existing funding categories• Working with a multitude of government agencies: municipal, government departments for aging and mental retardation as well as the “National Insur. Inst.”

38

Problems and issues encountered Problems and issues encountered during program development, during program development, cont’dcont’d::

• Dilemma: To begin with an integrated program? To insist on referring individuals to an existing senior center?

• The Integration Paradox: It would seem that the more limited the intellectual and physical functioning of the “normal” senior, the less distinctive are the differences with the senior who had a prior intellectual disability. Inclusion here becomes one of individual preference.

39

Problems and issues encountered Problems and issues encountered during program development, during program development, cont’dcont’d::

• Inclusion as a social process – as with all forms of inclusion, this requires preparation of the environment as well as the individual with special needs

• The need for dynamic program development – e.g. the stated preference of some retirees to have some vocational element in their day

40

Two short films:Two short films:

At leisure – arts and crafts

Sample art work of seniors