Educating Health Professions Students About Older Adults: Results From the Age-Friendly Students Senior Connection

The Age-Friendly Student Senior Connection (AFSSC) is a graduate-level interprofessional (IP) health student service-learning effort launched early in the COVID-19 pandemic to connect older adults to students providing both social support and health resources to seniors through dyad phone calls between IP health students and community-dwelling elderly. Our study aimed to examine changes in students' attitudes toward older adults after participation in the program.

IP graduate health students were paired with community-dwelling older adults to engage in weekly remote interactions over a 6 to 10-week period. Students completed a postparticipation online survey that included an open-ended qualitative question about program impact on challenging or reinforcing their preconceived notions about older adults. We used descriptive statistics to characterize participants, and conducted thematic content analysis to inductively explore student-reported lessons learned.

Students reported that program participation challenged their preconceived notions of older adults and aging. Commonly identified themes included resilience, continued activity, and social interactions among older adults, observations about health conditions, and the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults.

Study findings demonstrate the positive effects of the AFSSC on health professions students' attitudes toward and perceptions of older adults. Student participation in intergenerational service-learning programs may reduce negative elderly stereotypes by challenging preconceived notions and improving student understanding and appreciation of older adults.