Innovative features:

The Personal Care Attendant Training curriculum is designed specifically to educate home care workers, many of whom now enter the field with no formal training. During the course, you will learn essential caregiving skills as well as communication and professional skills necessary when providing home care.

The curriculum was developed according to principles of adult learning theory. Written materials were developed at a 5th grade reading level in order to reach a wide audience of students.

The course includes audio-visual and print materials, such as video clips, textbook, workbook and career guide. Testing materials and skills competency checklist are also provided.

Textbooks, workbooks, career guides and a series of 13 video clips that illustrate and expand upon curriculum topics support the curriculum. Video topics include: bed rest, wheelchair use, infection control, medications, personal care, fire safety, fall prevention, early to mid stage and mid to late stage Alzheimer's programs, aphasia, elder abuse and cultural competence.

Quick Tips for Caregivers, the required textbooks, are purchased through our industry partner, Medifecta and have received excellent reviews from the National Alliance for Caregiving, Bookwatch and Midwest Book Review. Quick Tips provides hands-on caregiving advice and instruction useful to caregivers on a daily basis. Text is simply and clearly written. The book includes illustrations of many care skills; it is printed in large type for easier reading. (Ask for RCC student pricing) Buy the book.

The videos that accompany the curriculum are designed for those providing elder care and care of the disabled. The modules are all filmed in home settings. Cast members include paid care providers, health care professionals who serve as expert consultants, family caregivers, older adults and people with disabilities from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds.

The course includes classes on both early to mid stage and mid to late stage Alzheimer's disease, along with videos on both topics. Other specific diseases are also covered, including arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and aphasia, depression, Parkinson's, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury.

The curriculum includes modules on:

• Roles and responsibilities of a personal care attendant
• Caring for the elderly and disabled
• Communication skills
• Moving and positioning someone in bed
• Active range of motion exercise
• How to recognize and prevent pressure ulcers
• Proper body mechanics for the caregiver and care recipient
• Infection control and bloodborne pathogens
• Personal care (grooming, hygiene, etc)
• Tub baths and showers
• Vital signs
• Intake and output
• Oxygen therapy
• Medication management
• Safe wheelchair use
• Nutrition
• Reducing personal stress
• Fall prevention
• Fire safety
• Elder abuse and neglect
• Cultural competency
  
  Specific diseases, including: early to mid and mid to late stage Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and aphasia, depression, Parkinson's, ALS, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury.