LifeSTEPS Health & Housing Program and Samuel Merritt Nursing Students Support Seniors Age in Place

Spring 2025 Program Update: Supporting Senior Wellness Through Student Nurse Partnerships

This spring, LifeSTEPS Health and Housing Program (formerly the RN Coaching Program) partnered with 17 nursing students from Samuel Merritt University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Through a 10-week clinical rotation, these students brought free, on-site medical support and wellness education directly to senior residents at Sierra Sunrise and Vintage Oaks senior housing communities in Sacramento.

Divided into two cohorts—one with experienced RNs advancing their degrees and another with Accelerated BSN students—the groups provided individualized care for 34 senior residents. Each student supported two seniors one-on-one with wellness check-ins, morning walks and chair exercises, blood pressure checks, and healthy living discussions. Many also assisted with walk-in services like blood pressure clinics, helping residents schedule doctors’ appointments, complete important forms, and understanding their care plans.

One student’s fluency in Russian proved invaluable, ensuring our Russian-speaking seniors felt comfortable and understood during wellness visits.

To conclude the program, the students along with LifeSTEPS hosted a successful Health Fair at both senior communities, with a total of 49 combined residents in attendance. The students partnered with local organizations such as Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, which generously donated snacks and food. They also secured raffle prizes, coffee, and wellness giveaways from other community partners.

The nursing students from Samuel Merritt University made a meaningful impact during their time with us by supporting 34 clients. At the conclusion of the program, students completed final assessments, sharing updates on each resident’s health status, recommended continued support for those with long-term care needs and identifying residents who should remain on a priority list for future student nurse involvement.

Their thoughtful, community-focused efforts helped improve the overall health and well-being of our residents by providing critical access to health resources and fostering strong relationships between residents and student nurses. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the value of these partnerships in supporting our community’s well-being.

(Students from Samuel Merritt University and LifeSTEPS Liason at Vintage Oaks)