Home Health Aide/Gerontology

This programoffers a Certificate in Home Health Aide with a special concentration in Gerontology.Home Health Aide includes the principles and techniques used in assisting theelderly, convalescent, or disabled patients in their home.  Gerontology is the physical, mental and sociological study of aging. Itincludes the study of changes in adults as they age, the ways that societychanges with an aging population, how society must change to address the needsof an aging population and the ways we apply this information to programs andpolicies for older adults.  Specialemphasis will be on the promotion of wellness, how to support the optimal levelof functioning and quality of life in all aspects of the older adult.

This certificate provides career opportunities in human services, government agencies,retirement communities, nursing homes, health care and long-term institutional care.  Home health aide workers serve as social workers, nursing aids, social scientists and healthcare managers,working with older adults or as advocates for the elderly. 

The program anticipates 15 completions per year.

Health care, andall its areas, is one of the largest sources of employment in Imperial Valleyprimarily through the two hospitals, two prisons, detention centers, jails, long-termcare facilities and numerous home health and hospice facilities.  This certificate will provide students with increasedknowledge and skills to obtain a nursing assistant position within thisindustry.

 The program will be focused on the followingobjectives:

1.      Closing the skills gap for nursing andthe healthcare industry by teaching in-demand skills needed by the healthcare industry.

2.      Acquiring the knowledge to provide the studentswith up-to-date information in one of the nation’s largest healthcare needs.

Providing students with skills and competencies that are transferable across all areas of the healthcare industry. 

This program is consistent with the mission of Imperial Valley College and the State Chancellor’s Office. The program will have a demonstrable impact on area of increasing needs and job opportunities available for students.

The program will be required to adhere to both the institutional program review requirements as well as the individual CTE program review mandate.Institutionally, all programs are required to have a three-year cycle review with one comprehensive review and two update cycles. In the comprehensive review, program data is analyzed to establish the overall “health” of the program. CTE also requires a biannual review of specific matrices and employment data. The program will also be required to have two advisory committees per academic year to establish a continuous line of communication with industry.

Open enrollment rules will be followed. Since all course work is independent without prerequisite work, students will be able to start their sequence during any semester.