Students participated in activities that simulate the feelings geriatric patients have with arthritis, tremors, visual disturbances, limited mobility, along with a hearing deficit.

This puts the students in the shoes of what the patients they care for are going through.

“It helps the students have more empathy for the people they care for,” said CNA teacher, JoAnn Stribling.

After all the equipment is applied students then attempt to complete tasks, such as fine motor skills like trying to pick up cheerios, BINGO chips, cut paper and write something.

They then go for a guided walk down the hallway and stairs to experience the difficulty patients experience with a limited range of motion. They end the activity by attempting to complete larger movements by trying to bounce a ping pong into a cup.

Through the PRIME Grant the CNA class was able to purchase arthritis simulators for the hands, muscle stimulator to create tremors, and headset that distorts what they hear. 

“My goal while teaching every year, every class, is to create compassionate caregivers. They will be caring for us one day,” said Ms. Stribling.

Students also made brains and were challenged to wear their brains all day!