OHAI to offer long-term care giver certificate program

The Northeastern State University College of Extended Learning is partnering with the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative for a six-week program designed to teach students to care for individuals either in their home or in a health care setting.

The program is set to begin on Jan. 9 at the OHAI Caregiver Training Center in Tulsa. Classes will be Mondays and Thursdays and will include a mix of classroom and clinical hours.

OHAI Education Director Linda Miller said the program is a start for individuals interested in providing care to others and starting a career in healthcare.

The program is the beginning steps to build a strong foundation of learning the basics to provide that care, Miller said. It is not just about learning skills, but participants will learn how to care for their future client. Graduating participants will have a solid foundation of skills and understanding to be prepared to work in a wide variety of settings including hospice, home health, nursing centers, hospitals and more.

During the program, students will learn to have the patient focus on care, to maintain dignity and independence, common and chronic disease maintenance, to help patients have a good life, proper body mechanics, to identify dementia and Alzheimers disease and health care communication.

Students who complete the program will be eligible for the Oklahoma State Nurse Aide Competency examination which will certify them as a Long-Term Care Aide (LTCA/CAN) and Home Health Aide (HHA).

The care giver certificate program has officially been approved and endorsed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

For more information contact the NSU College of Extended learning at ce@nsuok.edu or 918-444-4610.