Thanks to a rapidly increasing elderly population, numerous opportunities are arising for professionals in geriatrics and gerontology. Although success in these careers requires specific technical skills, compassion and understanding are key to providing quality care. How do you help your young, healthy students develop empathy and geriatric sensitivity? Geriatric simulation is one solution.
Tools like the RealCare™ Geriatric Simulator help today’s students develop those skills by enabling them to “walk in the shoes” of an older adult – and in turn, develop a better understanding of the challenges that daily tasks can present. Keep reading to learn how to facilitate a successful geriatric simulation. You can also watch an in-depth introduction to this unique learning aid below:
Start with an empathy self-assessment
As we discussed in a recent blog on designing simulation-based lessons, pre-simulation preparation is a great way to identify gaps in knowledge and orient students to the simulation or equipment they’ll be using.
The Geriatric Experience curriculum that accompanies our Geriatric Simulator includes a simple empathy-self assessment. It asks students to answer “yes” or “no” to statements like “I have a general interest in the welfare of other people” and “I am able to listen objectively to other people.” Use this handout, or create your own, to help your students begin to think about their own empathy and consider whether they need to improve.
Create simulation stations in your classroom
There are many creative ways you can use geriatric simulation to enrich your program. One of the most common ways we see teachers using this tool is in separate “simulation stations” that offer a different experience at each station. For instance, you could set up the following:
- Station 1: Fully Immersive. Students could complete tasks like buttoning a shirt or picking items off the floor while wearing the Geriatric Simulator and glasses and using the walker.
- Station 2: Visual Impairment. This station could feature the 5 remaining pairs of visual impairment glasses that come with the Geriatric Simulator. (The simulator includes 6 total.)
- Station 3: Hearing Impairment. At this station, students could use cotton balls or noise-cancelling headphones to feel what it’s like to be hearing impaired.
- Station 4: Arthritis Station. Students could practice reading, writing and other daily tasks while wearing gloves stuffed with popcorn or tape.
- Station 6: Mobility Station. At this station, students could practice using a walker, crutches or a cane.
- Station 6: Research Activity. At this station, students could utilize their devices to conduct a short search project, like answering specific questions about aging.
Incorporate the curriculum
The Geriatric Simulator and curriculum is designed for a multitude of programs, including Health Occupations pathways, CNA training and Family and Consumer Sciences pathways. Its comprehensive curriculum addresses geriatrics and gerontology career exploration, visual impairment, declining mobility due to aging, the impact of aging on bones and joints, hearing loss and more. Although the curriculum includes lessons that total 9-13 teaching hours, you can pick and choose the lessons that work for your program. Each one actively integrates the Geriatric Simulator, allowing for plenty of hands-on learning opportunities.
Bonus step: Watch this presentation
Watch this presentation on-demand anytime to get ideas and tips for implementing the Geriatric Simulator into your program.
Learn more
Looking for additional information on using geriatric simulation? Consider these resources: