The Lambton College Interprofessional Practice - Gerontology, Ontario College Graduate Certificate focuses on preparing graduates to work interprofessionally to enhance their professional practice to care for aging adults and families who require complex
and/or long-term care within institutions or in the home in Canada. In the program, students develop skills in collaborative patient-centred care and inclusive practice.
Program curriculum includes comprehensive patient assessment and team approaches to client and family centric care planning and delivery. Students also study various age-related changes in social, psychological and biological functions to evaluate the
implications of these changes on individuals' ability to interact with their social and physical environments and on individuals' care needs.
As a culmination of program learning, students participate in both an interprofessional field placement within a community organization as well as a Work Integrated Learning Project. Program
curriculum along with real world experiences prepares graduates for employment in a range of Canadian work settings including senior centres, day and leisure programs, research and education services, retirement homes, long term care homes, group
homes and home support services.
Please Note: This program has specific placement requirements - review requirements before leaving your home
country.
Fall 2023 Delivery Format
Term 1 classes will be delivered in person and students will be required to be on campus for the duration of the term. The 2023 Fall term begins on September 6. However, to allow for travel delays, classes will be remote until September 16. Students must be on campus to join in-person classes starting September 18, 2023.
See Course List
Admission Requirements
A university degree in a health related field.
The admissions process is competitive and meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.
Lambton College reserves the right to alter information including admission requirements and to cancel at any time a program or course; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary
to meet current competencies or changes in the job market; to change the pathways third-party certification bodies; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications
or registrations or over-acceptance of offers of admission. In the event Lambton College exercises such a right, Lambton College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to Lambton College.
English Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency by submitting one of the following scores:
- IELTS of 6.5
- TOEFL iBT 79
- Passed Lambton Institute of English placement test
Please Note: IELTS is the only proficiency score accepted by the Study Direct Stream (SDS) program. Additional country-specific requirements may also be applicable.
Meeting the minimum English requirements does not guarantee admission. Students with higher English proficiency scores will receive priority in the admission assessment process.
Technology Requirements
In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, it is mandatory to own a reliable laptop to complete tests and assignments.
Course List
LHC-1074: Patient and Family Centred Care
Patient and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) is an approach to the planning, delivery and evaluation of healthcare based on mutually beneficial partnerships among patients, families and health care professionals. These partnerships occur at the clinical, program, organizational and policy levels to assure the quality and safety of health care delivery. This course focuses on effective leadership strategies to advance the practice of patient and family-centred care within healthcare organizations.
LHC-1083: Patient Safety
Ensuring patient safety and healthcare quality is critical to everyone in healthcare practice. This course provides healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skill and systems thinking needed to lead the implementation of effective quality and patient safety programs. Learners will examine evidence informed, best practices and elements needed to create a culture of safety and one that engages patients in patient safety. Topics also focus on concepts of human factors, technology, medical errors and the standards and organizational practices which govern quality, safety and risk management in health care today.
LHC-1093: Evidence Based Practice
This course focuses on the research process and the analysis and evaluation of research to integrate the best evidence into practice. Learners will gain an understanding of health research evidence and strengthen their research knowledge and skills in order to make informed decisions in their practice. These skills include the ability to understand and interpret research literature and the capacity to translate this knowledge to support and inform practice innovations.
IPG-1003: Interprofessional Practice - A Canadian Perspective
This course introduces students to key concepts of interprofessional collaboration within Canada, with a focus in gerontology. Learners gain an understanding of various health and social service professions in terms of roles, responsibilities, and competencies. Through self-reflection, students develop an awareness of professionalism and principles of effective team functioning as key components for interprofessional and ethical behaviour. Students participate in activities that incorporate principles of collaborative leadership and conflict resolution that foster a coordinated approach to shared decision making.
IPG-1013: The Aging Population
This course reviews the natural process of aging including typical patterns and trends associated with the geriatric population. Students explore the physical, mental, and social aspects of the aging process within the social and health care systems. From an interprofessional approach, students examine pharmacological and naturalistic approaches to common disease treatment and prevention strategies using current research findings.
COM-3013: Professional Communications
This course is designed for international students with diplomas or degrees. It focuses on polishing communications skills acquired through one's academic career and workplace experience. Through various business writing and speaking scenarios, students learn Canadian business practices and communication styles. Close attention is paid to proper incorporation of the intellectual property of others to ensure academic integrity. Students will practice organized and dynamic speaking and will strive for polished business documents.
PSW-2003: Palliative Care
This course is a study of the client and the role of the Personal Support Worker in palliative care. This course will provide the successful student with the Fundamentals of Palliative Care equivalency certificate. The Fundamentals of Palliative Care is an introductory education program based on foundational concepts from A Model to Guide Hospice Palliative Care: Based on the National Principles and Norms of Practice (Ferris et al., 2002). The course is offered with the permission of the Southwestern Ontario Hospice Palliative Care Education program to Lambton College PSW students. The goal is to provide learning opportunities for formal care providers and provide the best practices in end-of life care to persons and families in Ontario.
IPG-2003: Leadership in Canadian Health Care
Students learn the fundamental skills required for effective leadership in a Canadian health care setting. Topics covered include resolution, leadership and negotiation skills, strategic planning, leadership culture and accountability, and advanced coaching practices. Students examine topics related to primary health care, the social determinants of health, health reform and public policy. This course highlights leadership styles and skills that are responsive to the health needs and strengthen primary health care in Canada. Designed to help participants enhance their Emotional Intelligence in terms of both personal and social competence.
LHC-2094: Cultural Competence for Health Care Providers
Cultural competence is an integral part of providing quality, patient and family-centred care. Cultural competence and culturally effective care are also critical for improving health outcomes, patient safety and patient satisfaction. Health care providers need knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent and culturally appropriate care in today's multicultural society. This course examines concepts related to cultural competency, diversity, the nature of organizational culture, transcultural caring and change in health care organizations and systems.
LHC-2104: Leadership in Canadian Health Care Lab
This course introduces learners to the health care challenges leaders must face and manage in the workplace. Learners will examine a number of different strategies necessary for leadership and management in current and future health care environments. Topics covered in simulated learning experiences, will focus on patient safety, cultural competence, technology, informatics, interprofessional collaboration and critical thinking. In addition, learners will study how delegation, professionalism, communication and teamwork improves health care delivery.
IPG-2013: Frailty in the Elderly
In this course, students study geriatric modules based on the Geriatrics interprofessional interorganizational Collaboration (GiiC) toolkit developed by the RGPs of Ontario. Topics covered include geriatric addictions, heart failure, falls, medication, nutrition, delirium, frailty, pain, incontinence, exercise and depression. Online certificate - https://acpemodules.ca/
IPG-2032: Career Development
This course provides the student with the opportunity to develop the material and skills required to obtain and maintain employment in a geriatric health related field. This course provides students with an opportunity to complete the required documentation for "Passport to Placement" which is required to enter the clinical field placement.
IPG-3004: Canadian Community Practice
This course provides a multidisciplinary experience in the concepts and methods of population-based health sciences. The student will explore the roots of community health in Canada incorporating community health foundations and principles related to health promotion, disease prevention and health program planning and evaluation with a focus on the senior population. Learners will gain knowledge and understanding of community health in Canada.
IPG-3014: Principles of Canadian Long Term Care
Successful completion of this course will enable the student to understand and critically analyze the current Canadian long-term care system. The course will deal with the legislation, policies, funding, and governance structures that shape the delivery of long-term care. The student will gain an understanding of the diverse individual bio-psycho-social needs and the complexities of providing holistic health care in the long-term care setting. Discussions will include the impact of interprofessional practice and person-centered care on the resident and family journey. The future of long-term care will be considered as it relates to the aging demographic and the advancement of technology.
IPG-3023: Working with Clients with Dementia
Providing a holistic model of care for dementia clients is the philosophy used in this introductory course. The student will explore differences between normal aging and dementia and learn about the assessment and diagnosis of diseases causing dementia. Appropriate communication, physical and emotional environments, and effects of dementia on clients, caregivers and the family are discussed. Completion of the Gentle Persuasive Approaches Certificate will be part of this course.
IPG-3033: Mental Health and the Aging Population
In this course, you will explore the elderly as a special population among those people who experience mental health problems. You will consider values, personal philosophy, ethical and legal issues, advocacy, and lobbying to effect change and influence public awareness. You will be introduced to holistic models and frameworks for the assessment and care of the elderly client experiencing mental health disorders. You will discuss caregiver needs as it applies to staff members in various agencies and organizations and to family members and friends of people with mental health needs.
IPG-3043: Patient Navigation in Canada
Patient Navigation exists to help patients with the navigation of complicated and multistep medical systems, including hospitals, clinical and community settings. This course introduces the student to fundamental principles of patient navigation, patient care coordination, patient and family communication, cultural competence and interprofessional practice. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of health care resources across the province. Students will learn how Patient Navigators contribute to social justice by assisting particularly vulnerable populations overcome barriers to health care access and bridge gaps in transitions of care related to chronic and acute illness.
IPG-4006: Placement
CPL-5559: WIL Project
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Project is aimed at enriching students by connecting different program areas of study, cutting across subject-matter lines, and emphasizing unifying concepts. The focus of the WIL Project is to make connections between study and industry by engaging students in relevant and meaningful activities that are connected to and practiced within the professional workplace. WIL Project allows students to enhance and strengthen their employability prospects post-graduation by fine tuning skills and knowledge and meeting the expectations of today's employers. Students are required to attend the scheduled shifts in the WIL office, reporting to the WIL Supervisor. Weekly real-world challenges are presented in the WIL office, designed by industry professionals. In addition to the weekly assigned deliverables, students are also offered professional development sessions, and exposed to industry guest speakers, enhancing their opportunity to develop their professional network.
Please Note: Field Placements are unpaid opportunities for students to gain valuable work experiences.
Program Maps
Current Students
Current students can view program maps from previous years on the mylambton website.
You will need to login with your C# and password in order to access your program map.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the program will gain enhanced knowledge, skill and vision in working with the elderly within Canadian health care system.
This program does not meet the preparatory requirements or the eligibility criteria to write the registration exams to qualify as a registered practical nurse or registered nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario. Please visit the College of Nurses
of Ontario to learn more about how to become a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in Ontario. The college will not provide evidence of language proficiency and students must write the accepted language proficiency tests
as set out by the CNO.
Career positions may include, but are not limited to: continuing care assistant, geriatric aide, geriatric health care attendant, health care aide, health care assistant, hospice worker, institutional aide, and long-term care aide.