New Publication: Primary Care Trainees Learn to Support Aging in Place Through a Virtual Area Agency on Aging Practicum

Connecting older adults to community resources is essential for healthy aging, yet many primary care trainees lack exposure to Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)—key organizations that support aging in place. To close this gap, the Northwest Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Center partnered with three Washington State AAAs to transform an in-person practicum into a scalable virtual experience.

The virtual AAA Practicum combines short online modules, independent exploration of local resources, and live video discussions with AAA staff. Between 2021 and 2024, 112 family medicine residents, nurse practitioner students, and geriatric fellows completed the practicum. Evaluation results showed significant improvements in trainees’ knowledge, confidence, and likelihood of referring older adults to AAA services. Notably, outcomes were equally strong for trainees who completed modules only and those who also had virtual or in-person experiential visits.

Nearly all participants rated the practicum as good or excellent, and 90% reported it would change how they practice—particularly by increasing attention to social determinants of health and timely referrals to community supports.

Overall, the study demonstrates that a virtual, community-academic partnership model is a feasible and effective way to prepare primary care teams to connect older adults and caregivers with vital resources. Expanding this practicum nationally could meaningfully strengthen care coordination and help more older adults successfully age in place.

Read the full open-access article.