Certificate in Geriatric Health and Care programme aims to develop a pool of trained workforce which can be employed to address the promotive and preventive health needs and provide compassionate, effective and comprehensive care to older individuals in community and health care institutions. They can also assist other health care providers in old age homes (including assisted living facilities) settings, rehabilitation facilities, palliative centres, palliative centres or otherwise in hospitals as well. These trained personnel can be called Geriatric health and care workers. 

With the increase in the geriatric population and the social limitations such as the nuclear families, there is greater evidence of the demand of these Geriatric Health and Care Workers.

The six months programme delivered through open and distance mode is offered with a package of multiple media. Enrolled learners are provided customised 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. They are required to undergo training in identified centres in medical colleges/hospitals for a period of 8 days. The list of these centres is available in the IGNOU Website under programme information in the admission page. It may however may be noted that each centre can have a minimum of 5 learner. In case the number of learners is less than 5, they will be shifted to another centre. This 8 days training is to be followed by a training in a district level hospital near their place of stay or work for a period of around 2 months 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.

Students after successfully completing their programme can find placements as given below

• In homes as Geriatric Health and Care Workers
• In specialized Institutions involved in care of Older Persons
• In hospitals and other health care institutions as formal Geriatric Care providers

Outcome Objectives

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

Eligibility

• 10th pass with two years of relevant experience in health care.
• 11th pass with one year of relevant experience in health care.

12th pass

Rs.6700/- plus Registration/Development fee as applicable