The Great-Plains IDEA Gerontology Program is a graduate program developed and implemented by the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA). The Great Plains IDEA (Alliance) originated as a consortium of Colleges of Human Sciences ranging across the central United States. This Alliance's accomplishments have included…

The European Master's Program in Gerontology (EuMaG) started in September 2003 with support from the European Commission. The EuMaG is a modular, 2-year, part-time international training program about the aging process and its societal implications. The multidisciplinary curriculum comprises four domains of gerontology (i.e., social gerontology,…

With the goal of enhancing knowledge and skills related to cross-cultural aging, a linked service learning project was implemented through a partnership with an elderly community center in Hong Kong. The project linked Semester at Sea (SAS) study abroad students with gerontology students at Colorado State University through collaborative service…

Results are reported for 3 years of in-service training provided to managers and direct care personnel employed in community, residential, and vocational programs for developmentally disabled adults. The data demonstrate the efficacy of the training model in that 1015 (97%) of 1080 training objectives attempted were completed by the trainees at…

To assure that gerontology students meet their educational objectives and are prepared to assume professional roles, gerontological program assessment is imperative. This paper situates gerontological academic program assessment within the framework of the American Association of Higher Education's principles of assessment. It presents clear…

A graduate gerontology program includes an evaluation research course in which students learn and apply approaches, are exposed to literature, and design an evaluation plan. Students reported benefits from application and the seminar format, gained awareness of accountability to funders, and acquired a philosophy of professionalization. (SK)

Describes master's level specialization in gerontological counseling. Discusses development of the program, curriculum, and program evaluation. Describes program characteristics, including development of the specialization, features of specialization (coursework, practicum and internship, certificate program), and student recruitment and…

Reports details of an educational program designed and implemented at one retirement community. Cites a national survey which attests to the uniqueness of this program. Recommends that educational programs based on this model be implemented at all retirement communities. (Author/ABB)

Emphasizes preservice education and training of older persons for work with their peers. Describes three training programs with older participants: the Senior Companion Program, the Health and Fitness Program, and the Closing the Generation Gap Project. (RC)

This document, one in a series developed to provide technical assistance to 22 Long-Term Care Gerontology Centers, addresses the application of evaluation procedures within centers and their component programs and projects, including: (1) interdisciplinary education and training; (2) service and practice model development; (3) research; (4)…

A required eight-week rotation in ambulatory medicine at three clinics that included house calls by medical students is described. The students' evaluation of the curriculum provided information on the effectiveness to teaching strategies and the success of transmitting knowledge about the homebound elderly. (Author/MLW)

This report describes a technique developed as part of the As Parents Grow Older (APGO) Project at the University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology which uses audiotape recordings in the analysis and evaluation of group intervention programs such as those designed to aid middle-aged adults in understanding and caring for their aging parents and…

Developed a program to support adults concerned about their aging parents. Specific objectives were to: develop educational materials, provide a group milieu, and train participants in communications techniques. Results indicated the program had limited positive results in contrast to no, or slightly negative change for the delayed treatment…

Guidelines are presented for implementing field placements in social gerontology courses. After an introduction comparing the focus, objectives, and content of two types of experience--the liberal arts field placement and the human services internship--the paper is divided into three sections. These outline recommendations for the organization,…

Describes an intensive instructional program designed and implemented to prepare health assistants to serve chronically ill older persons in the home. Under professional supervision, the health assistants extend health care to the chronically ill. All assistants continued in a health related role after the project. (Author/JAC)