Caregiver

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Caregiver program is a 3-week program with a total of 75 clock hours. Caregiving is an entry level position where a person learns the skills of assisting clients with their activities of daily living, light housekeeping & meal preparation. During the program students will gain an understanding of the client needs & how to assist the client with their specific needs. Care givers are frequently employed in Assisted Living facilities & Home Health/Hospice agencies. As the population ages, the demand for Caregivers is increasing substantially.

This program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing Care Institution Administrators & Assisted Living Facility Managers. Regional Center for Border Health, Inc./College of Health Careers holds an institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education schools.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All interested participants must submit a completed admission application.

Participants must have the following:

• High School diploma or GED
• An 8th (eighth) grade reading/comprehension ability
• Score 8.0 on the Test Adult Basic Education (TABE). Individuals with a post-secondary degree (i.e. Associates, Bachelors, Masters) may be exempt from taking TABE if official documentation is provided.
• 18 years of age or older
• No criminal history
• Finger print clearance card
• Ability to pay or qualify for sponsorship from area employment partners/governmental agencies.
• Ability to fully participate in classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting program activities.
• Students will test for the Arizona State Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers certification.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To graduate from the Caregiver Program the student must:

• Pass all required programs of study
• Pass CPR certification
• Pass Food Handler card
• File a completed application for graduation
• Clear any indebtedness to the training center

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To obtain certification through the Arizona State Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers, student must:

• Demonstrate citizenship/nationality/alien status documentation
• Fingerprinting required by the Arizona State Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators
• Negative TB test or public health clearance card
• Complete an approved Caregiver program
• Complete an application for Caregiver examination

Orientation

Clock Hours: 0 Lecture
Students will be provided an overall orientation of Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. College of Health Careers and complete required student file forms. During this orientation, students will be provided a short Medical Terminology course with an evaluation at the end of the course to measure understanding. Students will be taught how to “break down” medical terms using prefixes, root words and suffixes to promote a basic understanding of the terminology used in the medical field.

Understanding Home Health Aid Services and Legal Ethical Issues

Clock Hours Awarded: 6 Lecture
This couse introduces students to the world of healthcare. In this course the students learn about various types of healthcare facilities/organizations. Students learn what the “scope of practice” & how it will relate to their practice. An introduction to state & federal regulations is reviewed, along with specific state & federal departments. Legal & Ethical Issues encourages students to explore heir own morality and apply that to the workplace. Emphasis is placed on the legality of an action along with ethical dilemmas that may occur. This course will be full of open discussion with the instructor.

Building a Foundation: Before Client Care

Clock Hours Awarded: 5 Lecture. Prerequisites: Understanding Home Health Aid Services and Legal Ethics Issues
Communication & Interpersonal skills are required to be practiced in the job setting. During the 5 hours of this class students will explore appropriate communication with their peers & how this will relate to the client. Understanding verbal & non-verbal communication is an important skill the caregiver needs to gain the trust of the client.

Infection Control explains the way infections get passed from one person to another. During the lecture portion, students will be shown the basics of sanitation, disinfection & sterilization. During the laboratory practice, students will demonstrate hand washing, sanitation & disinfection of surfaces. Safety Concepts are important to prevent injuries in the workplace.

Body mechanics, posture, body alignment and other concepts are discussed during lecture. Students will then practice skills learned. Students will be taught and certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Holistic Approach to Understanding Clients

Clock Hours Awarded: 5 Lecture. Prerequisites: Building a Foundation: Before Client Care
During this course, students will give an overview of the anatomy & physiology of the human body. The Holistic concept is introduced which will encourage the caregiver to look at “the whole person” when assessing for changes.

Developing Personal Care and Basic Healthcare Skills

Clock Hours: 17 Lecture / 5 Lab. Prerequisites: Holistic Approach to Understanding Clients
During the course, students will gain an understanding of how clients will be taken care of. Specific skills will be taught and demonstrated by the student. A few of these skills include transferring a client, feeding a dysphasic client, assisting with housekeeping chores and many others.

Special Needs & Mental Health & Care Cognitively Impaired Person

Clock Hours Awarded: 5 Lecture. Prerequisites: Developing Personal Care and Basic Healthcare Skills
Mental illness is full of myths & fallacies. During the lecture, students are taught the differences between fact & fantasy. Students learn about physical wellness and how mental health problems could affect this. Students are taught how to deal with the cognitively impaired client appropriately.

Practical Knowledge and Skills in Home Management & Maintenance

Clock Hours Awarded: 8 Lecture. Prerequisites: Special Needs & Mental Health & Care Cognitively Impaired Person
Students are provided lecture regarding basic housekeeping skills, basic maintenance techniques & how to develop cleaning schedules. Students are provided with information about the importance of the service plan. How a service plan and its development. How interventions listed are implemented and how the Caregiver is able to notify their Supervisor for needed adjustments to the service plans. Students will receive instruction and understanding on proper nutrition and physical nutritional needs. Caregivers will be working with clients that may have specific nutritional needs & will gain and understanding of the reason why the client's needs are different from general nutrition. 

Medication Administration

Clock Hours Awarded: 17 Lecture. 5 Lab Hours. Prerequisities: Practical Knowledge and Skills in Home Management & Maintenance 
Medication Administration within a healthcare facility is a skill that requires specialized training. During the lecture & lab practice students will learn about medications and how they are distributed. Students learn about various types of medications, what common side effects are, what an “adverse reaction” is and how to manage this. Students also are taught how to practice “resident’s rights” regarding medications.

Career Development

Clock Hours: 2 Lecture. Prerequisites: Medication Administration
Students are encourage to discuss further plans regarding their new career. Resume writing, job searches, different ways to manage stress and money are discussed. Students are encouraged to create a resume and develop a job search plan.

Caregiver Program Costs:

Tuition 75 hours: $600.00
Registration Fee (non refundable): $50.00 
Uniforms: $80.00
Books: $75.00 
Supplies/Materials: $155.00
Certification Exam: $65.00 
Total Cost: $1,025.00