Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center onAging with a Disability
Fact Sheet
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), 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 California, Irvine.
The purposes of the Center are to conduct applied research related to aging with a disability, to train others about findings in this area as well as how to conduct rehabilitation research, and to disseminate information to consumers and professionals.
Problem Statement:
For the first time, persons who acquired a disability before the age of 30 can reasonably expect to live to late life. Tens of thousands of persons with spinal cord injury, polio, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions are now aging with a disability.
Current research and clinical experience indicate that chronic disability is not stable over the life span. Many, if not most individuals will experience major changes in health, function and psychosocial status as they age. These changes appear earlier than in non-disabled persons and suggest a picture that some consider "premature aging". People who are aging with a disability report new problems with pain, endurance, employment, discouragement, and worry. These changes also have a major impact on family and friends.
Research on these topics has been ongoing since only the early 1980's, with effort focused on understanding or treating these problems. Unless we have better diagnostic tools, better understanding of the processes involved people who have a disability.
Research Program:
Specific research projects are being conducted to investigate problems people are facing as they age with a disability. In most instances, the research populations include individuals with polio, rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and stroke.
The following projects are underway:
• The Natural Course of Aging with Disability
• Prevention of Secondary Complications
• Shoulder Pain
• Effectiveness of Assistive Technology and Environmental Interventions in Maintaining Functional Performance
Training Program:
Training is directed toward improving the knowledge and skills of current and future health and allied health professionals as well as consumers, family members, community service providers, and researchers.
A variety of training projects are being planned and implemented, including:
• Curriculum development for Medical Students and Primary Care
• RRTC-sponsored conferences for professionals
• RRTC-sponsored conferences for consumers
• Presentations at national conferences
• Publication of articles and chapters in scientific journals and consumer publications
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 magazines, presentations at consumer meetings, an electronic website, distribution of current research updates, and publication of a resource manual.
Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center on Aging with a Disability
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
7601 E. Imperial Hwy, Building 800-W
Downey, California 90242; (voice) 562-401-7402; (fax) 562-401-7011
webmaster: chuck.sanders@agingwithdisability.org
last updated 7/14/2008
