A Peer Advisory Consumer Program for the Elderly

A demonstration project using a volunteer peer advisory approach to consumer education for the elderly was developed. The authors describe program successes and failures, with emphasis on personnel selection, timetable for development, publicity, acceptance, and value of a peer advisory approach. Enthusiastic involvement by individuals trained indicates the possibility of using a peer advisory system for employing lifetime consumer experiences of the elderly, of providing avenues for continued societal involvement, and of extending needed consumer information to other elderly individuals.