The Approaching Elder Wave
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In 2005, the University of Maine was one of 10 institutions nationwide to receive grants from the John Hartford Foundation under the auspices of the New York Academy of Medicine's Social Work Leadership Institute to participate in the Practicum Partnership Program. The three-year, $75,000 grant allowed three Master of Social Work students the first year, four in the 2006-07 school year, and four more this academic year to participate in Maine Geriatric Practicum Partnership Program (GPPP).

To develop the practicum program in Maine, a consortium of agencies was established to identify rotation sites and amplify the dialogue concerning issues facing the elderly in the state, including changes in managed care and funding cuts in services. In applying for the grant, UMaine had 21 letters of support from elder care agencies from Portland to Presque Isle willing to serve as primary and secondary practicum rotation sites.

"There was so much enthusiasm and response from consortium members interested in helping educate future social workers so they are well prepared and knowledgeable about the issues facing the elderly," says Nancy Kelly, field coordinator for the School of Social Work who codirects Maine's GPPP with Len Kaye, director of UMaine's Center on Aging. "In addition, we networked with other social work educators in gerontology (from across the country) looking at leadership issues for social workers and ways of infusing (leadership initiatives) into the curriculum."

Each week during the academic year, the social work students spend two days a week in a primary practicum setting. One day a week is spent at different rotation sites, ranging from Hancock County Homecare and Hospice to Maine Medical Center's inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit. At each rotation site, MSW professionals, a number of whom are UMaine alumni, and gerontology specialists mentor the students, exposing them to different care systems and a range of issues facing an elderly population.

One of the Friday rotations was at the Bangor Vet Center, where the students participated in a day of experiential education focused on the needs and priorities of combat veterans. Their day included observation of a post-traumatic stress disorder treatment group for World War II and Korean War veterans and a roundtable discussion featuring combat veterans, including those who served in Vietnam, talking about their experiences.

"It's not just about developing the skill sets to work with this population," Kelly says. "It's about understanding and appreciating the specific needs of older people."

Prior to the introduction of GPPP at UMaine, eight out of 240 students in the School of Social Work's undergraduate and graduate programs expressed interest in working with older people. Since then, the practicum program has raised awareness about the importance and multifaceted dimensions of geriatric social work, and served as a recruitment tool, and the number UMaine social work students exploring geriatrics has tripled.

The school also added a new elective course in gerontology.

The emphasis on gerontology is particularly pertinent in Maine, which is the "oldest state" in the country with 14.6 percent of its population age 65 and older. The median age in Maine is 41.2 years; the national median is 36.4 (based on 2005 figures).

Kelly predicts that in 10 years, UMaine graduates with geriatrics training will be serving in key leadership positions, crafting policy that informs decisions on funding and programming for the elderly, and doing research that informs practitioners working with elders. In addition, she envisions a cadre of workers statewide interacting with individual elders.

"Today, it's difficult to find an MSW in a nursing home. In 10 years, I hope there are clinical social workers throughout the state," Kelly says.

Kelly and Marjie Harris, coordinator of Maine GPPP, are part of a committee developing a sustainability plan for Maine GPPP, which focuses on identifying funding sources to maintain the program.

"Success is having more and more social workers in the geriatric field, including in policy areas, making recommendations for change," says Harris. "Our graduates are helping raise consciousness of the need to serve this population in a different way.

"Our GPPP students are exposed to the unmet needs of elders that are out there," Harris says. "I believe we're sending our students off with a passion to advocate for more services for this age group. I think our students can make a difference in what services are and could be made available."