Conestoga College, in partnership with the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation, will continue to deliver training in person-centred care to long-term care home teams across the province thanks to a funding renewal for the Personal Support Worker Education Fund.
On November 25, the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care announced that the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care would extend the $4 million funding for a third year.
The education fund provides support to long-term care homes to deliver the Excellence in Resident-Centred Care (ERCC) course to personal support workers (PSW) and other team members. The goal of ERCC is to support better care and better outcomes for residents in long-term care.
ERCC covers a number of key topics including palliative care, safety and mobility, continence care, infection prevention and control, oral care, nutrition and hydration support and addressing pain and comfort for those living in long-term care. Since the fund launched in 2017, it has been used to train more than 12,000 PSWs in more than 300 long-term care homes across the province.
"Conestoga is excited to continue the delivery of ERCC training to support the workforce in long-term care. We are thrilled the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care continue to invest in ERCC and see the value this training brings to long-term care organizations across Ontario," said Michelle Heyer, director, Seniors Care, Schlegel Centre for Advancing Seniors Care at Conestoga College.
Through the fund, personal support workers complete the ERCC Trainer Course and are then able to deliver the ERCC Team Member Course to their colleagues in their own long-term care home.
The trainer course uses a combination of interactive e-learning modules, group discussions, reflective exercises and simulated activities so that students have the opportunity to practice skills and techniques to support the integration of a person-centred approach to care for residents. The modules integrate strategies and the latest in evidence to enrich life for those living in long-term care, with an emphasis on ministry standards.
The fund has been expanded this year so all team members in long-term care are eligible to participate in the ERCC Team Member experience.
To learn more about the fund and apply online, visit the PSW Education Fund website.
The Schlegel Centre for Advancing Seniors Care at Conestoga College works in collaboration with Schlegel Villages and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging to develop innovative education, improve workforce development and strengthen care practices to support care for seniors and their families across Canada. It provides a hub for collaboration with partners to advance training and practice approaches and share best practices and resources to enhance seniors care and living.