Help keep home care clients safe at home.

Home care aides know that the overwhelming majority of their clients are determined to age in place. The care and expertise of these aides makes it possible for their clients to fulfil their desire to live safely and independently at home. The Strategies and Actions for Independent Living micro-certificate program provides specialized training in fall prevention to broaden the skill set of home care aides and recognize their crucial role in improving their clients' quality of life.  

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Program description

Professional development program for home-care aides

This short, practical fall prevention micro-credential is designed for home health care aides who provide day-to-day in-home care for frail older adults or persons with disabilities. In addition to training, after the one-course program is completed, optional renewable access to the SAIL Resources is available to graduates, as well as to organizations such as home care agencies, health authorities and community health services. These resources include all the SAIL tools and the exercise program, as well as additional guidance for organizations on implementing and managing a SAIL program.

Training course

Frail older adults and persons with disabilities often wish to live independently in their own homes, but falls in the home are a major health threat. The practical SAIL tools help home care aides and community support workers to help clients live at home more safely by preventing falls and fall injuries. This NEW instructor-facilitated, three-week course offers case studies, videos, discussion and interactive assessments. You will learn how to apply the following tools in your work:

  • A specially developed, three-level, home-based exercise program that includes videos and handouts for client use, and training for you on how to motivate and support clients to use the program
  • A detailed risk factor checklist
  • An action plan framework with numerous strategies and actions to reduce each risk factor
  • Fall tracking and reporting tools
  • Optional ongoing yearly access to the SAIL tools and videos available on a sliding scale. Includes additional guidance for home care service supervisors to manage a SAIL program.

Expect to spend 3-5 hours per week in this course. 

SAIL Resources

Graduates who would like to retain access to the SAIL tools and videos after completing the training course may purchase one-year renewable access to the SAIL Resources. This access is also available at a discounted rate for organizations—such as home care agencies and health authorities—that enrol multiple staff members in the SAIL training course. Access is available for each individual who takes the SAIL training course, as well as for their manager. Materials for organizations include additional training and guidance to support implementation and management of a SAIL program within the organization. These additional materials are designed for home health professionals including nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists who perform client assessments and supervise home health care aides on their teams.

Resources include:

  • Calendar for recording falls
  • Fall report
  • Checklist and Action Plan for risk identification and fall prevention
  • Home Activity Program (HAP) videos and illustrated handouts for clients (available in English, Farsi, Mandarin and Punjabi)
  • HAP videos and training materials for home health care aides to motivate and support clients
  • Client assessment tools
  • Guidance for supervising home health professionals (RNs, PTs, OTs, etc.)
  • Implementation manual for home care organizations

Program highlights

  • Learners who successfully complete this program will receive a micro-certificate.
  • Accessible content for home care aides and others in similar professions
  • Flexible online learning: asynchronous format allows learners to continue working while studying
  • Learn from instructors with expertise in fall prevention
  • Optional ongoing yearly access to the SAIL tools and videos available on a sliding scale. Includes additional guidance for home care service supervisors to manage a SAIL program.

StongerBC logo

Through the StrongerBC future skills grant, students may be eligible to receive funding for this program. View details and eligibility.

Program outcomes

  • Define a "fall" and categorize fall risk factors
  • Discuss the guiding principles of SAIL, identify the members of the SAIL team, and describe their roles in supporting clients to use the SAIL tools
  • Explain the importance of behaviour change to fall prevention
  • Demonstrate effective client-focused communication skills in working with clients to make behavioural changes
  • Explain the purpose and method for using each of the SAIL tools
  • Discuss strategies for motivating and supporting clients in working with each of the three levels of the Home Activity Program

Who is this program for?

The SAIL training program is designed for home health care aides or others in similar positions who provide day-to-day in-home care for frail older adults and persons with disabilities.

The SAIL Resources are available separately and are suitable for:

  • SAIL training program students and graduates
  • Home health professionals including RNs, LPNs, PTs, OTs who assess clients and supervise home health care aides providing day-to-day support for clients

Career options

Some of our learners pursue careers in the following roles:
  • Home Health Care Aide
  • Community Health Worker
  • Home Support Worker
  • Personal Support Worker
  • Home Care Provider
  • Certified Personal Caregiver
  • Community Support Worker

Instructors

News and resources

Application and fees

Admission requirements

Enrolment is open to all learners interested in fall prevention in the home-care setting. No prerequisites.

English language requirement for international students

International applicants whose first language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency with:

  • TOEFL 79 on the online test or 550 on the paper-based test, or 
  • IELTS (Academic) minimum 6.0, with no individual component less than 5.5, or
  • Completion of the UVic English Language Centre's ELPI 570 level

How to apply

No application is necessary, simply select the course required for the micro-certificate and register for it independently. When registering, you will be charged a $20 Micro-certificate in Strategies and Actions for Independent Living fee.

Once you have completed your course, your certificate will be sent to you electronically.  Certificates are sent approximately one month after the completion of the course.

StrongerBC future skills grant

This program is eligible for the StrongerBC future skills grant. To register using this grant please review the eligibility, registration details and funding dates.

 

Registration details

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