The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2030 more than 20 percent of Americans will be over age 65. Bellarmine’s Professional Certificate in Gerontology will provide you with the knowledge and skills to effectively meet the needs of the aging population in a wide range of careers: nursing, allied health, social work and long term care. Opportunities also exist within government agencies; public and private institutions that provide health, education, and social services; research centers; special interest groups; and universities.
Earning
the certificate:
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distinguishes you as a knowledgeable, skilled, and committed professional in the field of gerontology
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enhances your professional marketability
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builds your skills and competencies in the field of aging
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fulfills your continuing education requirements
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gives you an interdisciplinary perspective on aging
Curriculum
*We are in the process of scheduling a cohort to begin in January 2024. This cohort will run through September, skipping July and follow a similar format as below. If you are interested, please email continuingstudies@bellarmine.edu to be added to the prospect list.
The Professional Certificate in Gerontology is awarded for successful completion of EIGHT 6-hour WORKSHOPS (8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. on the second Friday of each month, September through April) and a 12-hour FIELD PLACEMENT. (See workshop descriptions, instructor bios and info on field placement below.)
2022 - 2023 Schedule: 8 Fridays / 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Sept. 9, 2022 – Age Related Changes and Issues
- Oct. 14, 2022 – Dementia
- Nov. 11, 2022 – Continuum of Care
- Dec. 19, 2022 – Legal Issues and Services for the Aged
- Jan. 13, 2023 – The Aging Woman (and Man)…Quality of Life and End of Life
- Feb. 10, 2023 – Health Care Leadership
- Mar. 10, 2023 – Program Planning
- Apr. 14, 2023 – Race, Ethnicity and Global Aging
- May 12, 2023 – MAKEUP workshop (for those who missed a workshop)
Who Should Enroll
The program is relevant for nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, psychologists, physicians, chiropractors, administration/management, religious leaders, physical fitness professionals, and financial and nonprofit personnel.
Tuition
$999, includes all materials and field placement. Payment plan available.
Registration
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Register online at www.bellarmine.edu/ce/register and find the course under CE Professional Development (2.75% CC processing fee/ no fee for e-check)
- Register by phone, 502.272.8166.
- If paying by check, please download the registration form and mail with check
- Registration deadline: August 12, 2022
Workshop Descriptions
Descriptions and CEU information below. Information should remain very similar, but is subject to change. Updates will be made closer to program registration.
Age-Related Changes and Issues
6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Nursing contact hours 6.6, KBN #3-00031-12-19-123-2-2-2. To receive the contact hours, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Learn about physical, mental, social and personal losses associated with growing older. Explore successful keys to adjusting to difficult changes and losses.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Identify age related changes and issues that create limitations for the older adult.
- Explore the social, emotional, psychological, intellectual and physical impact of these age related changes on the older adult.
- Discuss the functional impact of age related changes.
- Analyze techniques, devices and strategies that can assist people with limitations to become more independent and satisfied.
- Recognize the impact of personal losses and lifestyle changes typically experienced by the elderly.
INSTRUCTOR: Dennis Lesch, PT, GCS, is Director of Adult Rehab Studies in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Bellarmine University.
Dementia
6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Nursing contact hours 5.8 KBN #3-00031-12-19-112-2-2-2. To receive the contact hours, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Learn about the various types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and the potentially reversible conditions that mimic dementia. Explore effective communication strategies and how to respond to dementia-related behaviors. Learn about Alzheimer’s/dementia care during a visit to a memory care facility.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Identify typical changes in the aging brain.
- Identify the various types of dementia.
- Identify the conditions that mimic dementia.
- Identify the risk factors for getting dementia.
- Identify effective communication strategies with dementia patients.
- List dementia-related behaviors and potential responses.
- Identify approaches to Alzheimer’s Care.
INSTRUCTOR: Sheroll Carby, M.Ed., is Community Outreach Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater KY & Southern IN Chapter.
Continuum of Care
6.6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Nursing contact hours 6.6, KBN #3-00031-12-19-113-2-2-2. To receive the contact hours, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Learn about the various types of housing and services available to senior citizens, such as retirement communities, assisted living, adult day care, rehabilitation, hospice and long-term care.
OBJECTIVES - At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Identify housing options available to the elderly.
- Identify the care and services provided at each level of care.
- Identify basic admission requirements.
- Identify specialty units available in long-term care.
INSTRUCTOR: Paul Plevyak has been a professional in the Healthcare industry for 26 years. He and two partners started Trilogy Health Services in 1998. Paul retired from there as Senior Vice President of Operational Finance in 2018.
Legal Issues and Services for the Aged
6.6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Nursing contact hours 6.6, KBN #3-00031-12-19-115-2-2-2. To receive the contact hours, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Learn about legal issues faced by and available services for the aged. Topics will include: social security, living wills, recognizing the signs of elder abuse, health care representatives, DNRs, durable power of attorney, guardianships, Medicaid, Medicare and Medigap.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Identify entitlement, enrollment and benefits of social security.
- Differentiate between a living will, DNR and health care representative.
- Identify the purpose and benefits of a durable power of attorney.
- Identify the purpose, benefits and restrictions of a guardianship.
- Identify the signs of elder abuse.
- List the basic differences and benefits of Medicaid and Medicare.
INSTRUCTOR: Misty Clark Vantrease, JD, is an equity partner at Kentucky ElderLaw, PLLC. She assists older clients and their family members with financial and non-financial issues.
Quality of Life and End of Life
6.6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Explore how men and women can stay healthy and maintain their quality of life as the age. Discuss common concepts surrounding aging, death and dying, as well as pain control.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Identify some of the methods by which older women and men can stay healthy and increase their quality of life as they age.
- Identify common problems of aging.
- Identify common concepts surrounding death and dying.
- Identify how to “be with” people who are dying and their care providers.
INSTRUCTOR: Kathy Hager, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CDE, a Retired Hospice Nurse, is an Assistant Professor of Nursing in Bellarmine’s Lansing School of Nursing. She teaches a course at Bellarmine on Aging across Cultures.
Health Care Leadership
6.6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Examine effective leadership skills needed in a health care facility and how to measure the effectiveness of successful leadership. Explore how to evaluate effectiveness and satisfaction. Learn about how federal and state guidelines are enforced in health care facilities.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Identify what leadership is
- Discuss the history of leadership
- Identify leadership styles
- Understand the power of communication and time management
- Identify personal branding
- Identify patient and staff members’ needs
- Explain/examine the importance of evaluating patient care
- Identify factors that influence patient and staff members’ satisfaction
- Discuss federal and state regulations in Eldercare
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Ronnita Usher, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FNP-C, Family Nurse Practitioner with University of Louisville Geriatric Medicine
Program Planning
6.6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
Learn about various aspects of program planning that specific agencies and facilities utilize to serve older adults. Examine the influence of budget, facility guidelines, and state and federal requirements on program development.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Recognize the variance in program development between and among facilities.
- Recognize the influence of budget, facility guidelines, and state and federal requirements on program development.
- Identify the need for disaster planning.
- Identify the benefits of various therapies in program planning (e.g. art, music).
- Describe an effective program to meet a client’s/patient’s needs.
INSTRUCTOR: Alice Tucker, MBA, is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. She is currently Regional Director of Operations for FiveStar Senior Living.
Race, Ethnicity and Global Aging
6.6 Social Work CEUs awarded. To receive the Social Work CEUs, you must attend the program in its entirety.
In this workshop we’ll explore the ways race, ethnicity, education and culture affect the aging experience. Learn how aging (life span, health conditions, living conditions, available continuum of care) in the U.S. compares with aging in various countries.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this workshop you will be able to:
- Explain national and global demographic trends in aging.
- Explain variations in race and ethnicity on the aging experience.
- Explain cultural perspectives on aging.
- Discuss life span variations, both nationally and globally.
- Explain global challenges to supporting an ethnically diverse aging population.
- Demonstrate cultural awareness in interpersonal interaction with elderly.
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Gail Henson, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Communication at Bellarmine University. Her research area is end-of-life communication and cultural aspects of end-of-life care. Dr. Henson works with nursing home and actively dying patients. She has been volunteering with Hosparus for fourteen years.
Gerontology Field Placement
The twelve-hour field placement provides an opportunity for you to work in an agency or facility serving the elderly and to network with professionals in the field of aging. The field placement will:
- Help you become more familiar with an agency or facility that serves the aged.
- Make you more aware of the services needed by the elderly.
- Give you the opportunity to network with other professionals in the field of aging.
- Enhance your career decisions and development.
FIELD PLACEMENT GUIDELINES
- Students must complete the Age Related Changes and Issues Course before starting the field placement.
- Placement must be completed by March l, 2020.
- Placement must be approved by Advisor. (The advisor will offer several suggestions for placements; however, other locations may be suggested by student.)
- Twelve hours are to be completed.
- Student must keep a journal of work/duties at placement and present to advisor.
- The site preceptor documents hours worked and will submit time sheets to the advisor after total hours are complete.
- At the conclusion of the placement, the preceptor completes an evaluation that is submitted to the advisor.
Please note:
- Any Gerontology student who intends to complete his/her Field Placement in a health care setting must be aware of the potential risk for coming into contact with bold borne pathogens, such as Hepatitis B. You are strongly urged to obtain a vaccination. (This is a series of three shots.)
- Annual TB screening is mandatory at all health care facilities.
- Immunizations are highly recommended and many agencies may require documentation of immunization records, including appropriate boosters.