Accelerating Adoption of Assistive Technologies to Reduce Physical Strain among Family Caregivers of the Chronically Disabled Elderly Living at Home

The subject solicitation was issued to Program Support Center (PSC) Task Order Holders ONLY.



This task order was awarded as a firm fixed price type contract.



The purpose of this task order is for the Contractor to accelerate adoption of assistive technologies to mitigate high family caregiver stress associated with physical strain of providing personal assistance with daily living tasks (e.g. help ith bathing, toileting, transferring) to chronically disabled elders living at home. There are two components to the project: The research component involves a systematic review of the evidence-base related to the role of assistive technologies in preventing overexertion and injuries among paid long-term care workers and the implications for unpaid family caregivers. The adoption component involves (1) consultation with experts on assistive technology and experts on family caregiving for the elderly as well as (2) site visits (in person and/or telephonic) to the local programs that operate under the umbrella of the Older Americans Act-funded National Family Caregiver Support Program. The purpose is to gain a better understanding of what these programs currently do or could do to facilitate family caregivers access to appropriate assistive technologies (those identified by the research component). The end product is to be a report including recommendations how to maximize the potential of the NFCSP as a vehicle for accelerating adoption of assistive technologies to reduce the physical strain experienced by family caregivers of the non-institutionalized frail elderly.



This requirement is in support of the DHHS/Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.