The goal of Wayne State University’s BEL project was to provide meaningful service to the community by integrating direct contact with older adults and real-world experience with course content. Students were assigned to an elder service partner who is 65 years of age or older. Each student joined his/her elder service partner in fulfilling a minimum of 20 hours of community service. Students gain additional insight by participating in reflective activities in class discussions; through journal keeping and other writing assignments; and in meetings with instructors, other students, and professional staff members at service-learning sites. Each student also developed a life history book for the older person.
Courses that Included Experiential Activity:
- Social Welfare Policy
- Human Behavior & The Social Environment
- Practice with Individuals
Gero Practice Behaviors:
- Identify and develop strategies to address service gaps, fragmentation, discrimination, and barriers that impact older persons.
- Assess and address values and biases regarding aging.