Service Learning in Elder Care

Summary

This article includes an overview of the history and rationale of service learning in elder care, a description of the varied service learning in elder care programs initiated by the Foundation for Long Term Care and other entities, the empirical and qualitative impacts of service learning in elder care projects on students, elders and the host agency staff. It concludes with recommendations and resource materials for implementation, expansion and incorporation into effective collegiate pedagogy and gerontological social work practice, with an emphasis on how social work faculty can collaborate with Other disciplines in service learning.

Key Words:

• Service learning
• community service
• education
• elder care
• informal support