Need Assistance? 01384 442752 (UK)

Summer Sale 15% OFF Sitewide until June 30 Use: SUMMER15

AGED CARE AND COUNSELLING BPS212

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

Study Aged Care and Counselling

An intensive and extensive foundation to understand the changes people experience as they age.

  • Developed by our team of university trained, experienced experts in health and psychology
  • Self paced studies (available online or as printed notes) 
  • Learning tasks include reading, interactive testing, practical set tasks and submitted assignments which are reviewed by tutors and returned to you with valuable feedback (usually in 7 to 10 days) 

Student Testimonials

"[Work marked] promptly and with comments that show detailed reading of my work. I have been impressed by the quick turn-around time and the feedback Having the course structured into 9 lessons has been helpful for me in approaching the course and fitting it into a busy schedule. I have been learning a great deal and receiving constructive feedback."
Deana Efraemson - Aged Care and Counselling course.

"Yes, it was [a valuable learning experience]. I have been a nurse for over 25 years and my knowledge regarding ageing and in particular, healthy ageing was practically non-existent. I enjoyed some aspects of the counselling."
Sue Payne, Aged Care and Counselling course.

 

COURSE CONTENT

The course comprises 9 lessons, as shown below.

Lesson 1. Understanding Ageing

  • What do we mean by Ageing? (Population Ageing. The Effects of the Ageing Population.)
  • Theories of Human Development. (Erikson's Theory of Development. Levinson.)
  • Theories of Retirement. (Disengagement Theory. Activity Theory. Atchley's Model of Retirement. Retirement Counselling.)

Lesson 2. Lifestyle Changes

  • Retirement. (Relationships. Relationships with Children. Relationships with Partners/Husband/wife. Widowhood/Disruption of Marriage/Life Partnership Due to Death. Relationships with Grandchildren. Friendships. Sexuality and Older People.)
  • Cognitive Changes - Intelligence.
  • Depression. (Determining Type of Depression. Unipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder. Features of Depression. Causes of Depression. Risk factors for Depression. Men and Depression. Depression and Older People. Symptoms. Suicide Risk and the Elderly.)

Lesson 3. Deterioration of Health

  • Ageing. (Physical Changes. Sex.)
  • Chronic Health Problems. (Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis. Incontinence. Problems with Eyes. Deafness.)
  • Factors in Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle into Old Age.
  • Human Nutrition. (Important Factors in Nutrition.)
  • Pain Relief.
  • Medication.
  • Stress. (Consequences of Stress. Stress and the Immune System.)
  • Personality and Heart Disease. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcers. Ways to Stay Healthy.)

Lesson 4. Support Services

  • Preventative Services.
  • Professionals Involved in Supporting Older People. (Occupational Therapists. Physiotherapists. Complimentary Practitioners. Aids to Communication.)
  • Alternative Treatments.
  • Counselling Professionals. (Role of the Counsellor. Counselling and the Elderly. Group Therapy. Online and Telephone Counselling.)
  • Other Support Services (Meals on Wheels. Funeral Services).

Lesson 5. Enablement Techniques

  • Common Risks for Elderly. (Risk of Falling. Vision. Hearing. Nutrition. Sexuality.)
  • Techniques to maintain quality of life. (Driving a car. Banking. Shopping. House cleaning. Gardening. Socialising. Pets. Exercise and Sport.)
  • Rehabilitation. (Specific Types of Rehabilitation.)

Lesson 6. Grief and Loss Counselling

  • What is Grief.
  • Psychological Aspects of Long-Term Grief. (Family, Work, Financial, Loneliness. Psychosocial Factors.)
  • Grief Counselling.
  • Counsellors Response and Intervention.
  • Depression.

Lesson 7. Debilitating and Terminal Illness

  • Dementia.
  • Kinds of Dementia. (Alzheimer's Disease. Vascular Dementia.)
  • Strategies for Counselling a Demented Client. (Communication. Daily Activities. Dealing with Sleeping Difficulties. Hallucinations and Delusions. Wandering. Depression.)
  • Terminal Illness. (Patient's Response. Anxiety. Depression. Guilt or Anger. Defence Mechanisms.)
  • Preparing for Approaching Death. (Practical Preparations. Emotional Reponses of the Dying. Responses of Family and Friends.)

Lesson 8. Losing a Loved One

  • The Importance of Loss. (Assessment. History of Loss. Role of the Deceased. Death of a Child. Stigmatised Death. Co-Morbidity.)
  • Counselling Strategies. (Therapeutic Writing. Bibliotherapy. The Use of Rituals. Bereavement Support Groups.)
  • Special Therapeutic Considerations. (Traumatic, Sudden, and Stigmatised Loss. On-going Support. Social Stigmas of Suicide.)

Lesson 9. Ethics and Intervention

  • Barriers to Aged Care Counselling. (Addressing the Client’s Needs.)
  • Common Legal and Ethical Issues in Aged Care. (Decision Making Capacity. Competence. Informed Consent. Confidentiality. Euthanasia. Multicultural Differences.)

Each lesson is completed with an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

LEARNING AIMS

Students studying Aged Care and Counselling will undertake a variety of tasks in each lesson; learning aims for the course include:

  • To discuss theories of ageing, and to develop an understanding of the different stages of human development.
  • To describe the psychological impact of changes which occur as a person reaches old age.
  • To understand the effect of physical health problems on older people.
  • Describe the nature and scope of support services, including counselling, for the elderly.
  • Describe a range of solutions that can enable an elderly person to adapt to changed circumstances in order to continue performing tasks or pursuing interests that are becoming increasingly difficult for them.
  • Explain how a variety of counselling techniques can be applied to specific Grief and loss situations for counselling elderly persons.
  • Develop a strategy for counselling an elderly person who has been diagnosed with a debilitating or terminal illness.
  • Develop a strategy for counselling an elderly person who has lost a loved one.
  • Determine when and how to intervene in the life of an elderly person.

 

Who Is This Course Suitable For?

You may be caring for an older person or looking for career opportunities working with older people. You may wish to study to improve your CV and for professional development. This course is suitable for anyone who lives or works with older people. For example,

  • Carers.
  • Care workers.
  • Support workers.
  • Rehabilitation workers.
  • Occupational therapists.
  • Physiotherapists.
  • Doctors.
  • Nurses.
  • Family members, and more.

What Will You Learn in This Course?

Study this aged care and counselling course for professional development. 

  • Learn the fundamentals of how to care for the older people.
  • Learn about lifestyle and physical changes people face as they age.
  • Study grief and loss counselling.

Through your studies you will:

  • Gain an understanding of the ageing process and how it can affect individuals.
  • Learn about the changing nature of relationships as people age.
  • Learn about how depression can affect the elderly.
  • Develop an understanding about changes in physicality as people age.
  • Learn how to seek and provide support.
  • Learn about common risks, and how to manage them.
  • Develop an understanding of possible health problems.
  • Study loss, and how to support people through grief.

It's easy to enrol...

1
Select a learning location:
2
Select a payment plan:

3
Select a learning method

4

What Next?

Study this course to –

  • Develop your knowledge of the changes people experience as they age.
  • Understand how to support older people as they go through the aging process.

This course aims to develop your understanding of the ageing process, and your ability to help others cope more effectively with aged people in their lives.

  • It is designed to be useful for counselling and other care professions or anyone involved with elderly people in any other way, formally or informally.  
  • The course is an excellent way to improve your support of older people and as a way to improve your career prospects.  
  • Gain an excellent start to the process of retraining or improving your career prospects with this course.
  • Study with support from our experienced tutors.

You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.

Or

Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.

Or Request a Prospectus Here.
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Jacinda Cole B.Sc.,M.Psych.Psychologist, Educator, Author, Psychotherapist. B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA. Jacinda has over 25 years of experience in psychology, in both Australia and England. She has co-authored several psychology text books and many courses including diploma and degree level courses in psychology and counselling. Jacinda joined ACS in 2001.
Tracey Jones (psychology)B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), DipSW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies) Tracey began studying psychology in 1990. She has a wide range of experience within the psychology and social work field, particularly working with people with learning disabilities. She is also qualified as a teacher and now teaches psychology and social work related subjects. She has been a book reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work and has also written many textbooks, blogs, articles and ebooks on psychology, writing, sociology, child development and more. She has had also several short stories published.


Check out our eBooks

Counselling HandbookA book for both students, as well as volunteers who may be involved in helping people with problems. This is a starting point for understanding counselling, and a reference for developing counselling skills. The book contains seven chapters: 1. Where can counselling be used 2. How to see behind the mask 3. Emotions and attitudes 4. How to communicate better when all you have is words 5. Theory versus practice 6. Diffusing difficult situations 7. Golden rules or tips
Family & Relationships CounsellingThe Family and Relationships Counselling ebook is an informative and helpful read for anyone who wants to improve their relationships or even help other people improve or nurture their own relationships.
The Brain and BehaviourThe Brain and Behaviour ebook provides a fascinating insight into the functions of the human brain. From understanding the human brain, human anatomy & behaviour, chemistry, brain damage and memory, this ebook is an interesting read and also a great reference for students of biology, biopsychology or psychology.
Working With PeopleAre you a "people person" looking for a job; or a better understanding of careers that might suit you? If so, this book was written for YOU!