(July 20, 2009 - Littleton, CO) Arapahoe Community College will launch a new Eldercare Specialist program during the 2009 Fall Semester. Through the program, students can earn a new college certificate for the eldercare specialist. The program is open to all Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs).
The philosophy and skills taught in this course will prepare the eldercare specialist for work in a neighborhood or household, in a transforming nursing home or assisted living community. This certificate is designed to expand the traditional role of CNAs to become specialists in working with elders and to position staff to serve resident needs instead of outsourcing to another department.
“The program is based on a movement that seeks to de-institutionalize care by creating a true home environment focusing on building relationships between all staff and residents and helping residents make choices that are important to them,” said Sue Treitz, ACC director of Health Careers Development. “Self-directed care, honoring resident choices, planning and facilitating social activities, assisting with preparation and serving of meals and meeting sanitation requirements will be components of study. Leadership principles of decision-making, problem-solving and conflict-resolution also will be addressed in this program. Students will have the opportunity to apply the skills learned in the classroom to a simulated lab setting.”
Classes will be available starting Aug. 19, 2009, with the Fall Semester. Registration is now open for all CNAs interested in the program, and administrators at long-term care facilities are encouraged to recommend completion of this certificate to their CNAs. The two required classes in the program are co-requisites and will be offered during the same time frame. Class will meet on Wednesdays from 4 through 9 p.m.
Beth Irtz, associate executive director of the Windcrest retirement community and Board President of the Colorado Culture Change Coalition, helped create the new ACC certificate curriculum along with Treitz and Carmen Bowman, former ACC Instructor and founder of Edu-cating. Irtz became familiar with the concepts built into this program through her membership in the Colorado Culture Change Coalition. The Coalition seeks to transform the culture throughout the long-term care continuum by affirming the dignity and value of each individual who lives and works in these settings.
“The certificate program is focused on developing a more rounded set of skills for CNAs, such as home care and cooking skills, so they can work in a neighborhood with elders,” Irtz said. “It will give them advanced and new skills and a commitment to the transformation of elder care services.
“We hope to transform nursing homes and places where elders live so they have choices, autonomy, self-worth and identity. The elderly will be in the center of their care and making decisions about when they get up in the morning and what activities they will participate in,” Irtz said.
To register for these courses, please access the website at www.arapahoe.edu and go to apply/register. For questions or more information, contact Sue Treitz at 303.797.5962 or through email at sue.treitz@arapahoe.edu. Arapahoe Community College is located at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO, 80120.