Sarah Gilbert, an associate professor at the Radford University School of Nursing, was the featured guest
recently on the “With Good Reason” public radio program as she discussed the Front Porch Project,
which Assistant Professor of Nursing Darleen Hoffert and she created in response to the particular risk
older adults have been in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Front Porch Project gives Radford University nursing students the opportunity to connect with the
geriatric patients they are learning to care for. During the project, each student enlisted an older adult volunteer or family member and spent time with that person to learn his or her story. After the visit, students wrote a narrative about the participant’s story and presented it to their fellow students and instructors. The Front Porch Project combines assessments and life review, which is key to helping older adults maintain their independence, Gilbert said. “With Good Reason” is produced by the Virginia Humanities for the Virginia Higher Education
Broadcasting Consortium, which comprises all of Virginia’s public colleges and universities. The award-
winning program is heard by an estimated 100,000 people each week on public radio stations in 33 states, including Virginia and Washington, D.C. Thousands more download the episodes via iTunes.
Gilbert’s interview is available as a podcast at withgoodreason.org.
Chad Osborne
Radford University