An intergenerational service-learning project improves attitudes and awareness toward aging, fall prevention skills, and workforce readiness among undergraduate and graduate students

An increase in the world’s older adult population has created a critical need for care among aging adults. Currently, many younger individuals have negative attitudes toward working with aging individuals and lack the knowledge and experience to work with older adults. Therefore, this study examined the effectiveness of an intergenerational service-learning opportunity with older adults to improve students’ aging-related knowledge, attitudes, and confidence, as well as perceptions on the impacts of their own health and stress levels. Undergraduate and graduate students (n = 247) involved in various programs of study at eight universities engaged in service-learning at 16 different certified nursing facilities across Kentucky. Students completed baseline and post-surveys upon completion of their service-learning experience. The findings indicated that aging awareness and attitudes (p = 0.031; effect size (r) = 0.138), fall prevention skills (p < 0.001; effect size (r) = 0.367), and workforce readiness (p = 0.022; effect size (r) = 0.148) significantly increased from pre- to post-surveys. Therefore, an intergenerational service-learning opportunity among college-aged students appears to be effective at improving some aging-related knowledge and attitudes, as well as confidence in their own workforce readiness.