Senior Mentor Program

The Senior Mentor Program is an education program to increase student opportunities for early exposure to older adults and issues of geriatrics.  The program exposes students to independent, relatively healthy older adults in order to challenge myths about all older adults being frail, while giving them hands-on experience with assessment community skills.  First year students select the Senior Mentor options in place of a physician mentor for the Mentor Course in the Clinical Continuum.

Partners:

• Center for Healthy Communities, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
• Division of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
• The Village at Manor Park, Manor Park Foundation

Goals of the Program:

• To increase knowledge about geriatrics
• To increase knowledge of the psycho-social aspects of aging
• Dispel myths and misconceptions about aging and older adults
• Increase knowledge of patient assessment and communication skills
• Increase student interest in the care of older adults or geriatrics as a career choice

Accomplishments to Date:

• Since the implementation of the program in 2002, there have been 123 first and second year medical students that have participated in the Senior Mentor Program.
• Students' evaluation of the program has been extremely positive-a great opportunity to learn geriatric assessment and interviewing skills

Current Activities:

• In the fall of 2008, the Senior Mentor Program will be offered to the first year medical students through the clinical continuum course.

Funding Sources:

• Center for Healthy Communities, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
• Division of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
• Manor Park Foundation, The Village at Manor Park