Students live with elder residents as part of the Learning by Living project

The Gerontological Society of AmericaSep 25 2009

A geriatric training method pioneered by Marilyn R. Gugliucci, PhD, president of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (the educational branch of The Gerontological Society of America) has proved successful enough that she plans to implement it on a national level.

This project, called Learning by Living, involves students residing in a nursing home for two weeks to better understand the experience of aging in a long-term care setting. Gugliucci started this type of training four years ago with students at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she serves as director of geriatrics education and research.

"By living the life of an elder resident these students have learned to open their hearts to older adults and as a result have created meaningful friendships," Gugliucci said. "Prior to this experience they only considered the disease or frailty rather than seeing the person."

Last year, an Institute of Medicine report, "Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce," indicated that America's aging citizens are facing a health care workforce too small and unprepared to meet their needs.

For example, when Gugliucci's program started in 2005, there was one geriatrician for every 5,000 people over 65; by 2030 that ratio is expected to increase to one for every 8,000 patients.

Several groups such as the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, a recently established coalition of over two dozen aging-focused organizations, are working to address this situation through legislative and regulatory actions.

Earlier this year, the Retooling the Healthcare Workforce for An Aging America Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate, co-sponsored by Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

Thanks to programs like Learning by Living, these issues are also gaining widespread media attention. The New York Times, the AOL Health website, SiriusXM satellite radio, and New Hampshire Public Radio all recently featured stories on Gugliucci's work.

"The longitudinal data from this project indicates that these students have changed how they care for all patients based on this experience and have maintained these skills over time," Gugliucci said. "They listen with their hearts, use touch as an added form of communication, and maintain eye contact at eye level with their patients."

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) is the educational branch of The Gerontological Society of America, the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. AGHE seeks to advance gerontology as a field of study at institutions of higher education through conferences, publications, technical assistance, research studies, and consultation with policy makers. AGHE's membership includes more than 275 organizations and institutions of higher education.