Personal Care Attendant

The training focus of the Personal Care Attendant is community-based and the occupation is best suited to people who enjoy caring for others. Personal Care Attendants provide bedside and personal care for people during periods of recovery, disability or family disruption. They also work as relief for permanent family caregivers who require rest or a break from the difficult job of caring for disabled family members. They assist their clients with various aspects of daily living such as personal care and hygiene, meal planning and preparation, routine housekeeping duties, shopping and participation in a variety of social activities. St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid training is included in the program.

Health Care workers, especially those working directly with persons afflicted with Alzheimer Disease, need to be kept fully informed and knowledgeable of the latest research, techniques, and medications developed for working with the care and assistance required of each patient. In addition to the Personal Care Attendant Diploma, the student is awarded a certificate from Corona College in recognition of having completed a course as a Caregiver for Alzheimer Disease.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Personal Care Attendants may be employed by public and private Home Care agencies specializing in providing in-home care. They may also gain potential employment in private homes providing care for specific individuals. Personal Care Attendants are employed at institutions such as hospitals and long-term care facilities, and personal care homes.

Corona's graduates have had a consistently very high level of employment in this field over the last several years. They have gained employment with a variety of care facilities and our Diploma is readily accepted by organizations such as Blue Cross for providing Home Care to individuals with this type of coverage.

With recent focus on the home care industry in the province, there has been an improvement in the base wage for Personal Care Attendants. Several of our graduates already enjoy steady employment at very good wages and our program is consistently being used as a jump-off point for people attempting to enrol in the Licensed Practical Nurse program.

Although traditionally a female dominated field, we have experienced an increase in male requests for information and participation in the program due to the type of work and very high employment statistics in the field at present.

PROGRAM DURATION: 21 WEEKS

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have a minimum of High School Completion (Grade 12, or ABE equivalent, BTSD (Level III), GED pass.) OR Students who are 19 years of age or older can be accepted under our Mature Student Policy. All students will also require the following:

- A completed Certificate of Conduct prior to entry into the program
- A current Medical Report completed and signed by a qualified medical doctor
- A pre-employment Tuberculin Test and Updated Immunization Record completed by a Public Health Nurse