Seniors Assisting in Geriatric Education (SAGE)

Seniors Assisting Geriatrics Education, or SAGE, was created to introduce health care students to the care of older adults in order to provide a better understanding of geriatric care through first-hand experience. Since its start in 2009, SAGE has expanded to include more than 700 students each year across eight health professions.

The SAGE Program pairs teams of UNT Health and Texas Christian University students from eight health professions with a volunteer aged 65 or older known as a Senior Mentor. During each visit to the mentor’s home, students practice basic clinical skills and assessment techniques while the mentor offers feedback and shares valuable insights. Student teams follow a structured curriculum, aligned with age-friendly health care, as they become more familiar with the health issues and what matters most to their “patient.”

SAGE is beloved by students and mentors alike. Older adults look forward to visits from their teams and interacting with bright and dedicated young people, sharing their experience with eager listeners and giving back.

Contact us for more information:

Phone: 817-735-0289
Email: SAGE@unthealth.edu

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U1QHP53050. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resources and Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.