Sacred Heart University

 







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GERIATRIC HEALTH & WELLNESS
Graduate Admissions
Graduate Certificate
Minor in Geriatric Health & Wellness
Undergraduate Certificate
Course Descriptions
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

HS 501 Spirituality in Health Care (3 credits)
Explores the spiritual dimension of health care and the incorporation of spirituality into the caring relationship. Examines the intersection of religion, spiritual practices, culture, diversity, life stages and health issues. Other topics include the identification of one’s personal spirituality, discussion of the ethical provision of spiritual care by the health care professional, the importance of the consideration of spiritual care needs by the health care team, and the difference in the roles of the health care professional and pastoral care professional.

GW 511:  Interdisciplinary Care in a Changing Health Care Environment (3 credits)
In this course, students will explore interdisciplinary team development and implementation, including factors that will enhance or constrain the team's effectiveness within the health care environment.  Students will define the traditional roles and boundaries of their professions, how these roles have evolved, and how boundaries are transcended in effective interdisciplinary teams.

GW 512:  Systems of Healthcare Delivery (3 credits)
This course explores the development of the health care delivery system from historical, philosophical, and economic perspectives, culminating with discussion of the factors shaping health care delivery in the 21st century.  The changing roles and responsibilities of providers, consumers, government, and corporations (provider networks and insurers) will be examined. 

GW 522: The Physiological Process of Aging (3 credits)
This course presents an in depth exploration of the “normal” aging process from the physiological perspective. A collection of assigned readings from classic and current research literature in each area will allow students to trace how understanding of the aging process has changed over the course of time. This course will help the student to differentiate “aging” from the acute and chronic pathological conditions encountered in health care practice. 

GW 524: The Psychological and Sociocultural Aspects of the Aging Process (3 credits)
This course presents an in depth exploration of population aging from the psychological and sociological/cultural perspectives. Course readings will present current and classic articles from the literature that explore such topic the elderly as individuals, continuing role of the family, support systems, intergenerational issues, public policy and government roles in the care of the elderly and the economic issues surrounding the elderly population.


GW 534:  Wellness Across the Continuum of Care (3 credits)
In this course, students will explore the concept of “Wellness”, comparing and contrasting principles and strategies of wellness, to those of acute care, rehabilitation, public health, or long-term care health practice.  Students will assess opportunity and need for wellness programming in their individual practice or community settings.  Using their knowledge of the aging process and principles of wellness and health promotion, students will develop a proposal for a “wellness” initiative, appropriate to their interests or practice setting.  This proposal may be the initial component of planning for their capstone activity.  

GW 535:  Ethical and Moral Issues in Geriatric Health Care (3 credits)
Health professionals working with older adults often encounter situations in which there is potential conflict between the rights of the patient and family, and the roles and responsibilities of the individuals and organizations that provide care.  In this course, the contributions on spirituality and moral thought to health and health care practice will be explored.  Students will also examine the ethical principles important in health care practice, and will explore how these principles can be used to guide clinical decision making when complex problems or issues create a dilemma (ex. elder abuse, reimbursement-driven care, advanced directives).

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