With the increase in the age expectancy, the number of older persons are increasing. Coupled with the changes in the social structure like breaking of the joint family system and the children moving out of the house in search of jobs etc, there are more and more elderly that require physical, mental and social support. Hence there is a pressing need to have trained geriatric care workers or geriatric care providers.

Certificate in Geriatric Health and Care programme is aimed at multiskilling a youth with 12th pass qualification or a 10th pass person with 2 years of experience in a health care sector to provide compassionate, effective and comprehensive health and care to older individuals in community and health care institutions. It enhances their ability to address the unique physical, emotional, and social needs of older adults, promote their well-being, and improve their quality of life, while also fostering professionalism, ethical conduct, and interdisciplinary collaboration in geriatric care.

These students after successfully completing their programme can find placements as given below:

• In homes as professional Health and Care Providers
• In specialized Institutions involved in care of Elderly
• In hospitals and other health care institutions as formal Care providers

The six months programme delivered through open and distance mode is offered with a package of multiple media. Enrolled learners are provided customized hard and soft copy of course material prepared by subject experts from all over the country, programme specific videos shot at different outdoor locations, online classes by eminent experts and two and a half months of hands on face-to-face practical sessions in identified and notified hospitals near their place of stay or work where they get an opportunity to learn skills under supervision of trainers.

The learners are assessed through both continuous and terminal evaluations before they are declared successful and awarded a certificate.

Expected Learning Outcome:

After completing the programme, a learner should be able to

• Function as an important link between the older persons and other health and related institutions.
• Assess and address any decline in intrinsic capacity and functional ability effectively with available resources.
• Identify and effectively handle the complaints and problems in older persons by proper screening, advice and referrals.
• Suspect and refer appropriately any emergency conditions or danger signs in long term illnesses in a timely manner.
• Encourage health promotion and prevention strategies for healthy aging.
• Provide care to the older persons in the health care institutions, long term care institutions or in the community.
• Educate other community members including family members regarding care of health needs.
• Develop managerial and entrepreneur skills for providing health care to the older person.

10th pass with two years of relevant experience

OR

11th pass with one years of relevant experience

OR

10+2 pass

Rs.6500/- plus Registration/Development fee as applicable