A nursing home/university exchange program: an alternative model for teaching nursing homes.

The nursing home/university exchange program is a long way from the ideal teaching nursing home model, but it can meet many of the same objectives of providing high-quality care for the elderly. The utilization of an interdisciplinary exchange can encourage cohesiveness throughout the nursing home and provide for increased opportunities for university affiliation. The nursing home can serve as an educational bridge for educators. Likewise, the university can provide practitioners an environment in which to grow and keep current in the field. This model can be adapted by any nursing home and university committed to improving the quality of life of older persons, regardless of whether they have the resources to develop the ideal teaching nursing home. This type of exchange program will benefit academicians, administrators, students, service providers, and, ultimately, the older individual.