Interprofessional Honors Course: Women, Aging, Poetry, and Literature Building Bridges Between Science and Art, Youth and Age
Students in younger generations tend to have a negative impression of older adults but are likely to be working with this population in the future if pursuing a healthcare-based career. Opportunities to develop relationships between the two populations improve the quality of interactions for all involved (Branscum & Sciaraffa, 2013; Seaman et al., 2017). An interprofessional seminar course, offered through the St.Catherine University Antonian Scholars Honors program, was designed to introduce students to the normal changes associated with aging and the approaches of different health professions and literature written by older women experiencing these changes. In addition to assigned readings, pairs of students spent time with an older woman throughout the semester. The course was founded on the idea that understanding the aging process of women was best done in conjunction with personal interactions and classroom assignments consisting of content written by women. One of the main reasons for the course beginning was to fulfill a request by the Sisters of St.Joesph archivist. Many of the aging Sisters reside in the independent living and assisted facilities located on campus, but there was previously no active attempt to document their stories from the student perspective. After completing the sessions with the elder partner, the task for students included a scientific aging literature review, a student reflection, and a narrative piece about their Sister. These papers are currently in the archives and will help serve as a historical reference to who the Sisters of St.Joesph are and how they live out their mission. The study method was discussed in the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health Spring Colloquim, where Sisters and students who participated readily concluded that the course interactions were meaningful and educational for both parties. In allowing students to take what they learn from interactions with their older adult partners, they actively reflect on applying this course to their future careers (primarily in healthcare). This opportunity for an extended conversation led to changes in attitudes for everyone involved. Relationships created during this course were valuable and contributed to a holistic understanding of how women experience aging. This course had overwhelmingly positive outcomes, and it could be used to rethink the way youth, healthcare providers, and family care for and interact with older adults. Other schools and fields of study could quickly adapt this course to their curriculum so that more students are allowed to engage in these types of holistic interactions.
