College students: Apply now for spring 2026 Geisinger Hospital Elder Life Program

DANVILLE, Pa. - Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, Geisinger Community Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center are now accepting applications for the spring 2026 Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), and the newly added Geisinger Medical Center expands the program's availability to Danville.

HELP offers college students pursuing health care careers a unique, hands-on opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults. As specially trained volunteers, students engage directly with patients age 65 and older, gaining valuable clinical exposure.

A central focus of HELP is delirium prevention, a critical aspect of senior care. Volunteers receive specialized training to recognize early signs of delirium and educate patients and families on prevention strategies. The program empowers volunteers with practical knowledge in patient safety and senior health, and allows them to contribute to better outcomes, such as reduced falls and smoother recoveries - making their role both impactful and deeply rewarding.

Benefits for volunteers:
• Hands-on patient care experience
• Collaboration with interdisciplinary care teams
• Leadership opportunities
• Mentorship from Geisinger health care professionals
• Training in comfort, mobility and cognitive interventions
• 100+ hours of hospital service

Benefits for patients:
• Personal connection and companionship
• Engaging conversations and emotional support
• Care-centered interventions to prevent delirium and functional decline
• Improved overall hospital experience
• Enhanced support to reach care goals

Get involved
Interested college students should submit an online application at go.geisinger.org/elderlife. Three orientations are available throughout the year. Applications for the spring 2026 semester are open now.

For more information, call 570-808-6124 or email Deanna Dunning, program manager, at [email protected].

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation's leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses - and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania's largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state's economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.