Aroostook County senior citizens who volunteered for a nursing program initiative at Northern Maine Community College were the honored guests at a recent celebration on the NMCC campus.
The Well-Elder program, coordinated annually by the NMCC Nursing and Allied Health department, pairs members of the first-year nursing class with healthy senior citizens who volunteer to allow students into their homes throughout the semester to practice their assessment techniques.
The unique program has been a part of the nursing curriculum for more than a decade. The culmination of the project has involved bringing all of the students and well elders together for a celebratory appreciation tea.
Contributed photo
SENIORS HONORED — Northern Maine Community College nursing students from central Aroostook and the senior citizens they visited this fall gathered for the annual Well Elder Tea at NMCC in Presque Isle. Well elders participating in the program are, seated, from left, Marjorie Bell, Evelyn Levesque, Jane Hunt, Betty McKenney, Joyce Bither, Ann Moreland, Sandra L. McHatten, JoAnn Thompson and Norma Sperry. Standing behind the seniors they worked with are NMCC students, from left, Becky Millett, Theresa Lint, Kayla Spooner, Laura Beckwith, Brynn McCurry, Donna Short, Lillian Walker, well-elder Hugh McHatten, and students Kimberly Cushman and Leslie Hart.
“The Well-Elder tea is a ‘thank-you’ tea for the community residents who participated in a project with first-year nursing students,” explained Mary Cornelio, NMCC nursing instructor and coordinator of first-year nursing students.
“Nursing students have an opportunity to interview older adults who have experienced healthy aging and who can provide a balanced view of aging. Students come away with more of a positive view of aging and an increased understanding of the challenges our elders face today. As nurses, we need to continue improving our workforce to meet the needs of each older patient.”
“The Well-Elder program has given me a new perspective on what aging is all about,” said nursing student Becky Millett. “I have learned that age is just a number and it should not define you.”
At the event, students introduced their well elder and presented them with a gift in appreciation for assisting them in their studies. The attendees also heard about current issues relating to healthy living and Medicare from keynote speaker Steve Farnham, executive director of the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, and Dorothy Sines, the agency’s wellness/nutrition director.
