Senior Exercise Leader, Land and Aquatics Programming

The Senior Exercise Leader program is designed to prepare students for employment in the Senior Care, Fitness, and Recreational Therapy industries.  Preparation is included for leading seniors in land and water-based activities that might occur in a home, recreation, or structured care facility.

Career opportunities for students completing this program of study include, but are not limited to:

• 31-1011.00 – Home care aid, home attendant, caregiver
• 39-9021.00 – Personal care attendant, resident care assistant, patient care assistant
• 39-9032.00 – Recreation workers, activity aids, activity assistant, program assistant
• 29-1125.00 – Recreation therapist assistant, activity coordinator, activities director, recreation specialist

By fulfilling the program requirements, students will have the necessary knowledge and skills to:

• develop appropriate exercise programming that enhances function, health, fitness, balance, mobility, and performance for seniors both on land and in water.
• conduct interviews, questionnaires, and basic fitness assessments to determine fitness goals, ability to move, and comfort in the water.
• provide instructions, demonstrations, and performance cues on safe and effective exercise techniques for seniors on land and in the water.  
• lead individual and group activities on land and in the water that provide physical, mental, and social health benefits.

This certificate builds upon and/or towards the Senior Care certificate.  It also provides an additional option for Kinesiology majors wishing to investigate or prepare for a career in the senior fitness or senior care industry.

It is anticipated about 35 students will complete the certificate annually.

Upon completion of the Senior Exercise Leader program, students will be able to develop appropriate senior fitness programming on land and in the water that enhances fitness, balance, mobility, and performance in activities of daily living plus lead group activities that enhance social health.  The skills acquired in the program enable a person in the senior care industry to expand his/her skill set into fitness programming and leading activities.  It also enables another entrance into the senior care industry that has less emphasis on providing personal care.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
HLTHOCC 065 HLTHOCC 063 HLTHOCC 064 HLTHOCC 062	Fundamentals of Health Care for the Professional Basic Medical Terminology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology Cultural and Legal Topics for Health Care Professional Skill Set for the Health Care Professional	2.5 units 2 units 1 unit 2 units	S1
Health 046 Kin Maj 150 KIN MAJ 151	Basic Life Support CPR/AED for the Healthcare Provider Senior Fitness Assessment, Strength & Conditioning Programming Senior Fitness Exercise Leader	1 unit 3 units 3 units	S2
Choice of one of the following: KIN 303-1 KIN 047	Aqua Aerobics I Adapted Swimming and Hydro Exercise	1 unit 1 unit	S1 or S2
Additional electives (optional) Kin Maj 134 Kin Maj 135	Advanced Lifesaving Water Safety Instructor	2 units 3 units	S1 or 2 S1 or 2

One semester provides introduction and specifics about working in the healthcare industry.  Second semester develops competencies in exercise assessment, programming and leading activities.   The student can chose the level and direction for aquatic instruction through the range of aquatic options.  The student can elect to learn how to teach swimming and water aerobics or gain more in-depth knowledge related to adapted aquatics.  If a facility does not provide a lifeguard, there is a class available to become certified as a lifeguard.

The course requirements and electives prepares the student for a wider range of employment opportunities.

Health and Related Sciences Pathway

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