Interprofessional Practice - Gerontology
Overview
Canada's aging population is rapidly growing and requiring specialized services and supports. In this program, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to care for aging adults.
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.
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 a program or course at any time; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies or changes in the job market; to change the pathways to 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
- IELTS of 6.5
- or -
- TOEFL iBT 79
- or -
- Passed Lambton Institute of English placement test
Meeting the minimum English requirements does not guarantee admission. Students with higher English proficiency scores will receive priority in the admission assessment process.
Costs
Technology Requirements
In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, Lambton College requires that each student have access to a laptop while studying at our college.
Courses
Patient & Family Centred Care
Patient Safety
This course prepares students to lead and support the development of a safety-focused culture within healthcare units and organizations. Emphasizing supervisory responsibilities and systems thinking, the course explores strategies to implement and sustain quality and patient safety initiatives. Learners examine evidence-informed practices, human factors, risk mitigation, and the role of technology in reducing medical errors. Key topics include compliance with safety standards, incident reporting, root cause analysis, and the engagement of staff, patients, and families in fostering continuous quality improvement and risk management.
Evidence Based Practice
This course equips students with the skills to critically appraise and apply health research evidence to inform operational and clinical decision-making. Learners develop the ability to design and lead unit-specific quality improvement initiatives by collecting and analyzing performance metrics, applying evidence-based strategies, and using data to drive improvements. Emphasis is placed on the leadership role in fostering a culture of inquiry, continuous learning, and quality enhancement. Students will translate research knowledge into practical interventions that promote patient safety, service excellence, and sustainable performance improvements within healthcare units.
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.
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.
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, incorporating inclusivity and diversity. 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.
Palliative Care
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.
Principles of Canadian Long Term Care
Cultural Competence for Health Care Providers
Leadership in Canadian Health Care Lab
This applied course provides students with hands-on experience managing real-world challenges faced by healthcare leaders and unit supervisors. Through simulations, case studies, and reflective practice, learners apply leadership and management strategies in scenarios focused on patient safety, conflict resolution, delegation, interprofessional collaboration, and culturally competent care. Additional emphasis is placed on unit-level operational management including staff scheduling, resource allocation, crisis intervention, and enforcement of occupational health and safety standards. Students explore ethical decision-making and develop resilience strategies to lead effectively in high-pressure clinical environments. This course builds the supervisory competencies needed to enhance healthcare delivery and support staff performance in dynamic healthcare settings.
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/
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.
Canadian Community Practice
Leadership in Canadian Healthcare
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.
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.
Mental Health & 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.
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.
Placement
During this field placement, students will have the opportunity to integrate their vocational knowledge and skills while working collaboratively with various health related professionals in a setting that services the aging population. Students will observe how the healthcare system services the aging population. Inter-professional experiences that allow for exploration and practice of the palliative approach will be examined.
WIL Project (7 Weeks)
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.
Contact
Centre for Global Engagement
LAMBTON COLLEGE SARNIA
1457 London Road
Sarnia ON N7S 6K4
After Graduation
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the program will gain enhanced knowledge, skill and vision in working with the elderly within Canadian health care system.
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.
Placement
More Information
Technology Requirements
It is recommended that you use a Windows laptop for your coursework. While other devices like MacBooks or Chromebooks might work for some tasks, they may not support all the software required for your program. If you're unsure, check with your professors before buying.
Internet Speed Requirements
To get the best experience while learning online, we recommend having an internet connection with at least 40 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed. This will help you use video calls, attend online lectures, and access other learning tools smoothly.
Because students live in many different areas, we can't suggest a specific internet provider. You'll need to check with local companies to find one that works best for you.
Laptop Requirements
In order to access the internet and virtually-delivered software and courseware, student laptops should include the following at a minimum. By meeting the following specifications, students will be equipped to access software and courseware on their laptop through the internet:
- Intel i5 8th Gen Processor or equivalent
- 8GB of RAM
- 100 GB HDD or more
- Webcam with a microphone
- Wi-Fi capable (802.11n/ac 5GHz)
- Windows 11 operating system
Mobile Device
Students will require a mobile device (smartphone) for:
- Accessing your digital student ID
- Using campus applications and services
Software
To ensure students are getting the most our of their classroom experience, some software will be required.
Lambton College has made this software easily accessible online. Students can leverage our Microsoft Office 365 software packages and services. In addition, much of the software you require for your courses will be available on demand for use on any device - on or off campus.