ABSTRACT

Recruiting and retaining older adults in technology training programs Older adults who have never used technology may be difcult to recruit and retain for a technology training program. At their stage of life, they may not see the value in learning to use a computer, the Internet, or any other type of technology. Learning to use such things as the Internet can seem more like work than enjoyment. They have come to a point in their lives where they believe that statements such as “At my age if I don’t want to do it, I am NOT going to do it,” are true for them. For older adults, learning to use technology might not be worth the hassle of commitment to training sessions and putting forth the effort to learn something new. Because older adults have unique learning challenges, they must be convinced that the training program will be doable and that they can successfully learn without feeling incompetent, unable, or embarrassed about their difculties with the technology or their initial lack of skill. This chapter addresses issues with both recruitment and retention of older adults in CCRCs for technology training programs. Information garnered from our 5-year longitudinal study has informed best practices in recruitment as well as retention for this unique population. Information can also be generalized to a broader group of older adults in technology training programs or to researchers organizing studies in CCRCs.