Strengthening Higher Education Pathways for Eldercare Providers: Undergraduate Attitudes and Eldercare Engagement

Principal Investigator: Kenneth C. Elliot (Social Sciences, UMA)

Partners: Amber Howard (Biology, UMA), Christopher Howard (Psychology, Husson University).

Abstract: This project is designed to enhance collaborations throughout Maine to assess undergraduate student caregiving burdens and training of eldercare service providers in rural settings. The project builds on the MCOA 2015 Report on eldercare research activities at Maine universities and national studies of elder caregiving (i.e. NAC & AARP, 2015). Two research challenges will be addressed; i) knowledge gaps in attitudes and engagement specifically of rural undergraduate students providing elder care; and ii) the need to consolidate a multi-campus research team. The state’s economy will be benefit by strengthening educational pathways for students and supports needed to become successful eldercare providers.