The Baltimore Experience Corps Study

The Baltimore Experience Corps Study is a randomized, controlled, community-based trial of the effectiveness of Experience Corps (EC) to determine if participation for adults 60 years and older, over two years of follow-up, results in better outcomes in the EC versus control arm in terms of mobility, strength, balance, and cognitive functioning.

The Experience Corps is a community-based model for health promotion for older adults embedded within a social engagement program. The program places older adult volunteers in meaningful roles in public elementary schools, bringing the time, experience, and wisdom of older adults to bear in improving academic and behavioral outcomes of children. The Experience Corps incorporates health promotion preventing disability and dependency associated with aging, into new, generative roles for older adults.

This program was initially designed by Dr. Linda Fried of this application, along with Marc Freedman of Civic Ventures, Inc. It has gone through two national demonstrations, neither of which evaluated the impact on older adults.

Inclusion criteria

• 60 years or older
• Agree to commit to at least 1 year of participation in the EC and to participate at least 15 hours per week for the full school year, if randomized to the intervention group
• Meet minimum criteria for cognitive functioning necessary to function successfully in a school setting
• Functionally literate, using a nationally recognized and standardized evaluation which provides grade level equivalency in reading and spelling
• Ability to travel to the schools, if randomized to the intervention group
• Agree to accept randomization and to participate in evaluations
• Clearance on the Baltimore city public school's criminal background check, if randomized to intervention group
• Complete training, if randomized to intervention group

Exclusion criteria

• Under 60 years of age