People over the age of 65, especially those over the age of 80, are among the fastest growing components of the population in most industrialized nations. There is great variation in health and functional status among elders; as a result their health care needs vary widely. Health and social service professionals must be ready to provide wellness and health promotion for healthy elders, to minimize risk of functional decline for elders with physical or cognitive impairment, to provide care to elders with disability who require assistance and support, and to assist and support family caregivers.
While the current health care system is geared toward responding to acute illness, many older adults are vulnerable to the effects of chronic illness. Patients, families, and health care and social service providers are challenged to effectively manage multiple chronic conditions and co-morbidities, and the associated impairments and functional limitations.
We believe that the complex health and wellness needs of older adults are best addressed by an interdisciplinary approach to care. Effective interdisciplinary teaming requires health professionals transcend traditional boundaries, based on understanding one's own and one's colleagues' scopes of practice and professional perspectives.
Program Description
Sacred Heart University offers an innovative inter-disciplinary graduate certificate program in Geriatric Health and Wellness, using an internet-based online-learning delivery format. The program is founded on principles of evidence based health care practice, and draws on expertise in geriatrics, community health, health promotion, health care delivery systems, and adult learning. The program's faculty is comprised of members of the departments of Physical Therapy, Nursing, and Occupational Therapy.
Graduates of the program will become:
- Leaders in developing and implementing interdisciplinary health care teams
- Effective advocates for older adults and their families
- Experts in comprehensive care of older adults
- Effective clinical educators who teach others about geriatric health care
- Innovators and change agents who will positively influence the evolving geriatric health care system.
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