Professional and Lay Religious Leaders' Beliefs and Knowledge About Older People:

Abstract

This study was designed to survey professional and lay religious leaders' knowledge and beliefs about the elderly and to determine the effect of a planned learning experience (PLE)on professional and lay leaders' beliefs and knowledge about the elderly. There were 64 subjects in the study: 26 professionals and 38 lay leaders. The professionals' knowledge about the elderly increased significantly after the PLE. Lay leaders' knowledge did not increase. Lay leaders' positive beliefs increased significantly after the PLE. Neither professional nor lay leaders' negative beliefs were significantly different after the PLE.