1. Senior Mentor Program Center on Aging, Division of Geriatrics
Department of Internal Medicine
School of Medicine
Funded by
the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
July 1, 2006

2. Purpose Give students a positive relationship with an older adult
Provide students opportunities to:
Debunk myths & improve perceptions about aging
Learn seniors’ perspectives on health
Improve listening skills with seniors
Improve comfort in being with seniors
Enhance interest and confidence in ability to provide care with seniors

3. Photo of pair or pair photo on background of purpose slide

4. Overview
First and second-year medical students and physician assistant students
Psychosocial focus
Voluntary program
No course credit, letter of commendation in student record
15-20 hour commitment

5. Participants Pilot year 2004-2005 2005-2006 Academic Year
12 first-year medical students
13 seniors aged 65-94
Academic Year
20 first-year medical students
6 first-year physician assistant students (added this year through other funding)
8 second-year medical students
36 senior mentors aged 65-95

6. Student Recruitment

7. Mentors Volunteers 65 and older
Examples of successful aging (active despite chronic conditions, engaged in life, mobile, upbeat)
Various backgrounds, ethnicities, professions
Found through faculty, staff, program publicity and word of mouth
No community recruitment needed yet

8. A few of our wonderful pairs

9. Outline 2005 - 2006 Student preparation Opening event
October 2005
Opening event
November 2005
3 meetings with senior mentors
November through April
Student discussions
Dec & Feb
Celebration
May 2006
Feedback
Ongoing plus April/May 2006

10. Opening Event November 2005

11. Student/Mentor Meetings
Pairs meet on their own schedules
Meet at mentors’ homes, restaurants or while doing activities
Topics
Senior’s life history
Senior’s healthcare perspectives
How senior stays active despite chronic medical conditions
Doing something active with their mentors

12. Student/Mentor Meetings
Examples of Fall 2005 meetings:
Attended Parkinson’s support group run by Senior Mentor
Helped Senior Mentor serve meals to homeless people
Toured nursing home where Senior Mentor volunteers

13. Celebration for Mentors, Pilot Year

14. Feedback Students’ Quotes:
I think aging is what you make of it. My mentors are good examples of people who do not seem to dwell on their limitations, but enjoy life to the fullest.
It has been wonderful to discover more about what it feels like to age.
I completely admire my Senior Mentor. I am completely intrigued with his history, his insights, and his fortitude.
After this program, I think it is easier for me to communicate with and relate to elderly people.
We can all benefit from better knowledge of geriatric patients since we will all have lots of older patients, no matter what area of medicine [we go into].

15. Feedback More Students’ Quotes:
My mentor and the rest of the amazing seniors at our very first meeting have definitely offered me a different outlook and attitude towards this growing population.
My mentor is vibrant, passionate, loving, brilliant and just an absolutely fabulous person to be around. Her energy is endless! What I am learning from her is that the senior population is diverse in their health just like any other societal grouping based on age, and that they should be treated as individuals.
I think this has been one of the most rewarding things I have done so far in medical school. I really appreciate my mentors and the Senior Mentor project’s efforts to make this relationship possible and meaningful.

16. Feedback Mentors’ Quotes:
It’s like having another grandchild, and one with great potential.
What did I ever contribute? This is a golden opportunity for that [making a contribution to society].
You always felt he [med student] was engaged with who you were.
I was surprised how easy it was that we could talk about anything.
It is great to be with young people.
I felt like I got out of it more than I gave.

17. Promotion & Publicity
The Senior Mentor Program was honored to be selected as the cover story in the issue of Alliances, a yearly publication by the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
Each year, Alliances showcases innovative programs that are changing the face of health care in New Mexico and beyond, as well as providing students the opportunity to gain new and valuable perspectives in medicine.

18. Promotion & Publicity Alliances cover article February 2006
Local public television short to air Fall with national program on aging
Local newspaper articles February (generated senior volunteers)
Presentations at two aging conferences Summer/Fall 2005

19. Contact Info
Senior Mentor Program
UNM Center on Aging
1720 Louisiana Blvd NE
Suite 300
Albuquerque, NM 87110 ,