Storytelling as an Educational Strategy for Older Adults with Chronic Illness

<h4>ABSTRACT</h4> As the population of older adults with chronic illness continues to increase, it is imperative to implement patient education strategies that are designed to elicit information and help health practitioners understand the world of the older adult. This article describes how storytelling, grounded in the basic principles of gerogogy, serves as an effective teaching and learning patient education strategy for older adults with—or without—chronic disease. <h4>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</h4> <p>Dr. Cangelosi is Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Nurse Educator concentration in the MSN program, and Dr. Sorrell is Professor, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Cangelosi is also Co-Director of the annual School of Nursing Clinical Nurse Educator Academy and serves as a consultant on educational strategies for second-degree students.</p> <p>Address correspondence to Jeanne M. Sorrell, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 3, Fairfax, VA 22030; e-mail: <a href="mailto:jsorrell@gmu.edu">jsorrell@gmu.edu</a>.</p>