SBIR-STTR Award

Phase I of this SBIR proposal will study the feasibility of ECHO housing accompanied with Home Health Care insurance, as a revenue-generating opportunity for rural communities. The proposed objectives are summarized as follows: 1. To perform three needs assessments in the state of Vermont of homeowners 55 years old and over living in rural areas. To ascertain a. the feasibility of ECHO housing in rural Vermont: b. to ascertain the feasibility of Home Health Care needs; c. To ascertain the feasibility of ECHO units being placed on another's property. 2. To investigate insurance companies to determine an appropriate home health care policy at the lowest cost to accompany ECHO housing. 3. To study the feasibility of conducting educational workshops and focus groups at selected rural senior centers. 4. To study the feasibility of conducting an educational seminar via Vermont Interactive Television, reaching rural elders throughout the state.Applications:This proposal presents a new and innovative housing alternative to institutional care for rural elders. providing intergenerational benefits to the families, and the rural communities. ECHO housing accompanied with Home Health Care insurance will provide an viable option for elders to remain in a rural community. The rural communities will also benefit from additional employment opportunities as trades people and health care professionals will find increased employment in rural communities as a result of this project.

This Phase II SBIR project is designed to test the hypothesis that echo housing is a viable alternative to institutional care for elders in rural communities. The proposed study, founded on a solid Phase I feasibility study, includes six major areas of research: 1) to develop and administer specific questionnaires tailored to assess the interests, attitudes, and needs of elders living in rural vermont regarding echo housing and home health care, in response to attending educational seminars, the echo demonstration project, focus groups, reading educational materials, and watching video on echo housing and home health care. To compile and analyze data from completed questionnaires. 2) to develop and create a video tape on echo housing and the rural elder, for educational distribution to elders in rural vermont. 3) to conduct educational seminars on echo housing utilizing vermont interactive television to reach rural communities. 4) to conduct educational workshops and focus groups on echo housing and the rural elder throughout the state of vermont at rural senior centers. 5) to distribute educational materials on echo housing to elders in rural vermont through cooperative extension services. 6) to purchase, and set-up an echo unit in rural vermont for utilization as a demonstration model.Applications:If this Phase II research is as successful as has been projected from the Phase I feasibility findings, a strong foundation for echo housing as an alternative to institutionalization for rural elders will be established. Some significant benefits to rural communities would include: providing employment, quality housing and care to elders in these communities. The offering of echo housing and home health care is unique and a needed resource in the rural communities.