Project Age: Interdisciplinary Gerontology Education

Abstract Because of expected demographic changes in the US, a critical need exists for allied health personnel with specific competencies for serving older persons in a comprehensive manner within interdisciplinary teams and among under-served rural and multicultural populations. The objectives of the project are to (1) Infuse curricula in eight allied health programs with gerontology content across five focus areas (Age and culture, Interdisciplinary collaboration, Technology and assist-ive technology, Functional setting and outcomes, Consumer health education; (2) Place allied health students as interdisciplinary teams into practica settings; (3) Provide continuing interdisciplinary in-service education to current practitioners, using distance learning technologies. The programs participating in the project include dietetics, blind rehabilitation, dental hygiene, exercise science, occupational therapy, public health education, recreation, and speech pathology and audiology. Project Age evaluation techniques include pre-and post-practica questionnaires, student journaling, assessment of student performance in practica, and evaluation of learning modules.