The macPAGE certificate program is based on a quality improvement initiative undertaken by Waterloo Regional Campus undergraduate medical learners. These learners identified their interest in and the importance of learning more about working with older adults and research on aging. This program is designed as an opportunity for learners to engage in experiential education; to provide interested learners with the opportunity and incentive to push their interests and learning outside of their Faculty and department; and to serve as a catalogue of educational experiences available on campus, in Hamilton and within the region. Learners must complete reflections and experiences from four of nine learning pillars to be eligible for a macPAGE Geriatric Competency Certificate. After completing an educational experience from a pillar, learners are required to upload proof of completion and a reflection on their experience.

Approximately 15% of Canada's population is over 65; by 2024, it is expected to reach 20% (CIHI, 2011). With the advent of health care advances and new technologies, people are living longer and continuing to contribute to their communities. Regardless of your major or education level, knowledge about how to communicate, empathize with and understand the priorities and interests of an aging population is important for a variety of careers and life experiences. Imagine… …you're an engineer working in medical devices and assistive technologies. Your company's biggest client base is individuals over 75 years old. …you're a manager assembling your next project team. Your team members are 24, 33, 47 and 63. How do you empower their unique strengths and skillsets and encourage teamwork? …you're a financial planner. Your client is trying to plan for the future with aging parents and three small children. …you're a health care provider. About 40% of acute hospitalizations are for patients over 65 (CIHI, 2011) and there are over 78,000 long-term care home beds in the province …you're a social media manager, and your top demographics are 25-35 and 55-65 year olds. …you're a volunteer coordinator, working at a community agency. The majority of your clients are older adults and many of your volunteers are as well. The macPAGE certificate program provides you with an opportunity to participate in different learning activities (e.g. volunteering, community engagement and advocacy, research, conferences, lectures, courses, online learning) that will support you to learn more about aging and working with older adults. Enhancing your knowledge about the aging population will help prepare you for experiences you may have in your personal and professional life. It will also provide you with knowledge and skills to support optimal aging in your own community.

The macPAGE site is designed to provide learners with a structured program that supports them to pursue opportunities to participate in share their out-of-classroom experiences working with older adults and related to research on aging. It provides students an opportunity to collect these out-of-classroom experiences and communicate about them in a way that can support their pursuit of future employment and educational opportunities. You can access the site by logging in from the top right of the page with your @mcmaster.ca email address. After you log-in, you will be able to access the learner area. You will be prompted to complete an attitudes survey that asks how you currently feel about older adults and what you think about getting older. You will have the opportunity to complete the same survey when you have finished the program so you can reflect on how learning more about research on aging has shaped your thinking. Once you have filled out the survey, you will have the opportunity to click on each pillar and read a description of what you will have the opportunity to learn from each pillar. In each pillar you can choose activities that reflect your interests and complement your current program of study. Don’t like what’s listed and have your own idea for something that you would like to do that fits with the pillar? Click the “Submit my own activity” button, and tell program staff what you would like to do and why it fits in that pillar. We love creativity and encourage learners to make this program meaningful and is aligned their own goals and academic background.

As a participant in the macPAGE certificate program, you have the opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge around working with older adults and research on aging in a variety of academic areas (it’s not just for Science and Health Science students!). Each pillar and the program as a whole have clearly defined learning outcomes and after completing these pillars, you will be able to clearly communicate with employers, academic programs, volunteer opportunities and other avenues that you have a background in aging and have experience working with older adults. These skills and experiences will be increasingly necessary and valuable as a larger proportion of Canadians are over 65, and seek services, goods, and advice from professionals in diverse fields. Successful participants completing all program requirements will be awarded a MIRA Certificate for Research on Aging and Engagement with Older Adults.

Surveys and reflections help learners keep track of their individual development and progress through the macPAGE program. Reflections serve as a valuable opportunity for you as to sum up your experiences think about how each pillar has supported you to develop new skills and knowledge, and identify topics or problems you are interested in learning more about. The attitude survey and final reflections are also used as a program evaluation tool, to help the macPAGE team refine and develop the program effectively, efficiently, and with learner perspectives in mind.

You can upload your proof of completion by clicking on the associated learning pillar. Look for the heading Upload Proof of Completion and click the Upload File button. You may upload .PDF, .doc, .docx, .jpg, and .rtf files. Examples of proof of completion are listed under each pillar.