HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHWEST. Gerontology: Social Health GERS 1092

Transcription

1 HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHWEST Gerontology: Social Health GERS 1092 Date and Time of Class: Class CRN: Instructor s Name: School Site: Phone Number:

2 HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOUTHWEST COURSE SYLLABUS Basic Certification in Gerontology: Social Health GERS 1092 This course addresses recently identified current events, skills, knowledge, and/or attitudes and behaviors pertinent to the technology or occupation and relevant to the professional development of the student. It provides a general profile of the older person in our society, including values, ageism and society s responses to the elderly. COURSE OBJECTIVE: This course is designed for the family caregiver as well as the individual looking for employment in the field of gerontology. Your attitudes, myths, and stereotypes about the older person will be explored. Ageism, demographics, ethnicity, relationships, elder abuse and legal issues will be some of the topics addressed. The impact of the aging process will be demonstrated through discussion, videos, and handouts. It is part of the Texas Basic Certificate in Gerontology program. GOALS: This course is designed to train the student in issues of gerontology including: To identify your attitude about the older person s social environment To explore aging in America To understand the impact of ethnicity To address the impact of social change To become aware of elder abuse To understand the empowerment of advance directives LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will demonstrate mastery of these objectives by completing assignments and actively participating in class interactions and discussions. Students will be able to: Describe issues of aging in America Describe demographics of aging - Administration on Aging Describe the structure of successful aging Describe the traditional and nontraditional families List ethnic issues Describe adaptation techniques 2

3 Describe crimes that happen against the elderly Describe signs of elder abuse Describe how to empower the elderly Describe long term care options for the elderly Describe the myths of aging Describe the future of aging PREREQUISITE: None REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: None REFERENCES: Administration on Aging. Gallo, JJ, Fulmer T, Paveza, GJ, Reichel, W. Handbook of Geriatric Assessment, Maryland: Aspen Publications, Inc., 2000 Hooyman, NE, Kiyak, HA. Social Gerontology, Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1993 Powell, DH. The Nine Myths of Aging, New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1998 Rowe, JW, Kahn, RL. Successful Aging, New York: Pantheon Books, 1998 Safford, F. Krell, GI; editors. Gerontology for Health Professionals, Washington, DC: NASW Press, 1997 Video: Growing Old in a New Age (consists of 13 videos not all will be used), The Annenberg/CPB Collection, 1993 COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS This is a 20-hour instructor guided course. Student will participate in class discussions and activities. ATTENDANCE: To fully benefit from the class, students are expected to attend all classes. 3

4 REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSE COMPLETION CERTIFICATE: To receive a Certificate of Completion and Continuing Education Units, students must meet the following requirements: Attend at least 80% of scheduled class time Complete the course lab (Productivity Builder), demonstrating 80% mastery of course concepts or equivalent skills demonstration to instructor. OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT-FACULTY INTERACTION: Students are encouraged to ask questions and request clarification or guidance as needed during class. A question and answer period is always provided. OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER EXPLORATION: Topics relevant to future employment and career exploration opportunities will be presented to the students, including certification and degree prospects. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION: Students are informed of instructional aids and resources, including books, other publications, and web sites relevant to the course. SPEAKER FORUM: At the discretion of the instructor, speakers may be invited to address the class on pertinent topics. CELL PHONES AND PAGERS: Cell phones and pagers can be disruptive during class. Please turn these devices off or set to mute while in the classroom or student lab. WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Please refer to your schedule for withdrawal and refund policy. DISABILITY SERVICES: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. The Southwest College Disability Services Office phone number is

5 Basic Certification in Gerontology: Social Health Content Sheet Aging in America Demographics of Aging - Administration on Aging Structure of Successful Aging Traditional and Nontraditional Families Ethnic issues Adaptation Crime and the Elderly Elder Abuse Empowerment Advance Directives Long Term Care Decisions The Myths Of Aging The Future of Aging 5

6 Basic Certification in Gerontology: Social Health Post Assessment 1. Who are the elderly? Provide a general profile of the older person in our society. Discuss cohort values. Discuss ageism and society s response. 2. Special issues is aging. Include treatment of relationships with family and friends, widowhood, retirement and work, health, institutionalization, death and dying, crime and implications of these changes. 3. Income. Review common income level, Social Security, sources of income, and management of resources. 4. Discuss ethnic variations in the aging experience. 5. Identify community resources to meet the needs of the elderly (i.e., formal support systems). 6. Identify informal support system to meet the needs of the elderly. 6