Sun Journal features COM's Learning by Living nursing home immersion program

The Sun Journal (Lewiston) on August 5, 2012 published a feature story on the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine's Learning by Living nursing home immersion program, designed by Marilyn Gugliucci, Ph.D., director of geriatric research. The story focused on University of Maine student Jana Kenney, who was spending 12 days at Russell Park Rehabilitation and Living Center in Lewiston in the role of an elderly resident. 

The program seeks to give students studying to be physicians or other health professionals a first-hand experience of living as an older adult with a health condition, Gugliucci explains.

Kenney was admitted with the diagnosis that she was suffering with pneumonia and recovering from a stroke, unable to use the right side of her body. She lived in a wheelchair, wore a nasal oxygen tube, ate pureed food, was toileted and bathed.

Kenney, who plans to go to medical school and become a geriatrician, told the Sun Journal:  “I've only been with [the residents] only a week, yet we have shared intimate details about ourselves to each other. I didn't have many visitors while here, many of the residents don't get visitors either, so we rely on each other. I trust them and they trust me. These people pick me up when I am down just by being present.” Read the story.

The program has been placing students in nursing homes since 2005 and has seen 31 students and an architect complete the program thus far. Gugliucci said the experience allows students to see what the lives of geriatric patients are like on a day-to-day basis and also allows participating nursing homes to review patient care practices ranging from medical to food service to supplies such as toiletries.

The story also appeared in the Bangor Daily News. In addition, the Associated Press picked up the story, which ran in the  Portland Press Herald and several other online media outlets.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.