Person-Centered Elder Support Certificate

Oakton's person-centered Elder Care Support (ECS) certificate offers compassionate, caring individuals the tools to work with elders as in-home support workers or family caregivers. If you're interested in a career providing loving and informed senior care, our curriculum will give you a foundation in the educational concepts and practices you need. You'll learn about the sensory, physical and psychosocial changes of aging, as well as normal aging, myths of aging, and culture change.

Courses focus on effective communication techniques that promote quality relationships between caregivers and elders. They also emphasize adaptive services as the elder experiences changes in his or her health or abilities. You will also explore 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.

Certificate

Our 3-hour person-centered elder support certificate can be completed in one semester. The curriculum offers a basic study of educational concepts and practices for the care and safety of elders experiencing normal aging. Sensory, physical, and psycho-social changes of aging, normal aging, myths of aging, and culture change will be discussed.

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Job Outlook

Employment of home health and personal care aides is projected to grow 33 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 599,800 openings for home health and personal care aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

The median annual wage for home health and personal care aides was $27,080 in May 2020.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Meet Your Faculty and Experts

Oakton's professors and lecturers are experts in their fields with advanced degrees and years of real-world experience. In addition to classroom learning, students receive support from our panel of expert advisors.

 

Jhosa Pagulayan, Chair
Professor of Basic Nurse Assistant Training
B.S.N. St Paul University
M.S. North Park University
jpagulay@oakton.edu
847.376.7642
Office: B219, Skokie

Sheila Zabin
Assistant Professor of Basic Nurse Assistant Training
B.S.N. Loyola University of Chicago
B.S. Loyola University of Chicago
M.S.N. Walden University
szabin@oakton.edu
847.376.7689
Office: B226, Skokie

May Alimboyoguen
Assistant Dean for Health Careers
Oakton College

Sabrina Benjamin
Maine Township High school

Tata Bryant
CJE Lieberman

Mary Beth Dentzer
Three Crowns Administrator

Ida Cronin
NorthShore Connect

Donna Dickson, RN
Professor, BNAT
Oakton College Faculty

Ingrid Erickson
Niles North High School

Margaret Gas, RN
Chair, Nursing Program
Associate Professor Nursing
Oakton College

Kelly Gilbert
Director
Visiting Angels
Living Assistance Services

Sirajullah Horwich
CJE Lieberman

Angela Jalloh
The Admiral of the Lake/
Lecturer, BNAT
Oakton College

Sharon Keane
Misercordia

Ami Lefevre
Niles West High School

Jhosa Pagulayan
Chair, Professor, BNAT
Oakton College

Valerie Parrilli
Advising & Assessment Specialist, BNAT
Oakton College

Bincy Reginold
Professor, BNAT
Oakton College

Barbara Strongin
Marketing Director
Relief Medical Services, Inc.

Amy Swanson
Maine Township High School/
Lecturer, BNAT
Oakton College

Bibiana Ukaegbu
Lecturer, BNAT
Oakton College

Deborah Wyeth
Assistant Professor, BNAT
Oakton College

Diana Yu
Niles North High School

Sheila Zabin
Professor, BNAT
Oakton College

What's Next?

We are glad you are considering attending Oakton College. No matter where you are in your decision-making process, we are here to help you with your next steps. Whether you're ready to apply now, need information on paying for college or have questions and want to contact someone, we're here to help.
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