Elder Care Support (ECS)

The goal of the Person-Centered Elder Support certificate is to give students the tools to effectively work with elders in the home setting as an in-home support worker or family caregiver. The curriculum offers a basic study of educational concepts and practices for the care and safety of elders experiencing normal aging. Sensory, physical, and psychosocial changes of aging, normal aging, myths of aging, and culture change will be discussed.

Courses focus on effective person-centered communication techniques that promote quality relationships between caregivers and elders, and emphasize adaptive services as the elder experiences changes in his or her health or abilities. A dementia component is included which covers concepts and practices for the care and safety of elders experiencing various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Students are required to complete a fingerprint criminal background check and have no disqualifying convictions in order to be awarded a Person-Centered Elder Support Certificate.

For more information, contact Kathleen Ahern-Gray, department chair, at 847.635.1461 or aherngra@oakton.edu.

(Oakton also offers a certificate in Basic Nurse Assistant and an associate's degree in Nursing.)