Exploring Skills-Based Competencies Through Geriatric Care Management Modules

Abstract

As educational competencies in gerontology continue to evolve, skills-based competencies (from beginner to expert level) endure as the hallmarks of the field. This study explored the impact of exposure to “active learning” modules for the practice of professional geriatric care management (GCM) on beginning gerontology students and their ability to acquire core knowledge and more advanced skills related to assessment and counseling community-based older adults. Working with a group of “nontraditional” students, many having previous caregiving experience and working with older adults in direct care and allied health care roles, evaluation of these modules show that early exposure to “advanced” professional practice can be an effective approach for introducing higher-level competencies to beginning gerontology students.