Become a Certified Gerontology Counselor at Light University
It’s no secret that in recent years, mental health challenges have presented themselves in startling numbers. With shifting societal values comes change, which is often unbiblical and harmful to mental well-being. Couple isolation with panic-laced media headlines and an uptick in broken homes, and you get the disturbing mental health downtrend emerging today.
As an organization marked by clinical excellence and an unwavering commitment to the Christian faith, Light University believes that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. As such, we believe God’s word offers answers to nearly every challenge – including mental health challenges. Through our Bible-based Christian counseling classes, you can become a certified biblical counselor and learn how to provide godly counseling to people searching for peace.
Gerontology - Caring for Seniors God's Way
Certification
Caring for Seniors God’s Way 101 & 102
24 CE Credits • IBCC Certification
total cost is $634.00 with fees
Gerontology – Caring for Seniors God’s Way Certification includes:
Digital Text Book
Certificate of completion
24 CEU Credits
Industry Leading Instruction
24 Course Modules
Course Lessons and Descriptions
Caring for Seniors God’s Way 101
Course Description
Caring for Seniors God’s Way: Introduction and Core Issues will help counselors to respond to clients who need care at every stage of life. This course is designed to help shed light on the tough issues the elderly wrestle with today as well as learning to confidently use the Bible when working with those who need direction, support, and encouragement.
Course Lessons
GERO 101: Introduction to Gerontology and Aging
Gerontology and aging is a study of our future. As the aging population increases in the United States and worldwide, there is a growing need for counselors, coaches and caregivers with training in aging issues. This overview of aging identifies the significant issues and needs of a new generation of elders.
GERO 102: Demographics of Aging: Life Expectancy and Social Issues
The population is increasingly growing into a society that encompasses a large amount of elders. Adaptations need to be made to accommodate this aging population because of the mental, physical, emotional, and social impairments that are common among the elderly. By preparing to end life well and making life adjustments as necessary, the aging person’s life can be more enjoyable.
GERO 103: Multicultural Issues of Aging
This session explores the characteristics of various cultures, specifically those that pertain to the care of aging individuals. Hispanic, Asian, and African American cultures will be discussed and elaborated upon in order for counselors and coaches to be better equipped to interact with clients of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
GERO 104: Comprehensive Strategies for Quality of Life and Health Care
This session will describe a four-part model following the CARE principles in learning how to make wise decisions when facing healthcare challenges with a loved one. The model is a helpful instrument that will equip counselors, coaches, and caregivers as they reach out to equip others.
GERO 105: Acute and Chronic Illness in the Aging
This lesson focuses on aging, factors that accelerate aging, common illnesses in aging, and interventions that slow the aging process and maximize functioning. Aging is a chronological and functional process, but functional aging incorporates a more accurate depiction of the aging process.
GERO 106: The Aging Brain and Related Memory Loss
Alzheimer’s disease is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States. Americans live unhealthy lifestyles, thus increasing the chances and severity of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. It is essential to live a healthy life now, so that later in life our brains stay healthy.
GERO 107: Behavior Challenges and Personality Changes with Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Erratic, unpredictable behaviors are part of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, which cause the greatest frustration for family caregivers. What can seem to be an appropriate response is often the wrong response. Helping families understand behavioral challenges with this disease is crucial to teaching them how to better cope as each stage unfolds.
GERO 108: Short and Long-term Disability in the Aging
This lesson will focus on aging and the factors that contribute to the acceleration of aging and the development of disability in the elderly population. Common illnesses and risks for disability in aging will be discussed and explained.
GERO 109: Assisted Living and Long-term Care
The landscape of housing options available to the elderly can be very confusing. There are a lot of options and misconceptions given about the various housing and housing options. This session will discuss various forms of assisted living and long-term care and how to determine which is best for aging family members.
GERO 110: Financial Issues of the Aging: Estate Planning Basics for the Elderly
This session discusses the importance of estate planning and the six basic ways to conceptualize your estate needs: having a will, doing nothing, using joint ownership, making gifts, using beneficiary transfers, and having a living trust. Through this lesson, one will learn the importance of planning as opposed to reacting.
GERO 111: Ethical Issues and Elder Abuse
God cares for every man and women of every age. It is His desire for us to love, respect, and protect others. This session discusses the important topic of elder abuse and some of the ethical issues of dealing with the vulnerability of elders.
GERO 112: Faith and Spirituality in the Aging
The goal in this presentation is to help Christians to rethink, embellish and improve the knowledge and skills they have for helping older persons and their caregivers prepare spiritually and practically for the challenges associated with longer life.
Caring for Seniors God’s Way 201
Course Description
Caring for Seniors God’s Way: Grief, Loss, and End of Life Issues will equip counselors and caregivers to help those who are entering old age deal with the myriad of losses and difficult prospects ahead. This second installment of the Caring for Seniors God’s Way program will allow caregivers to further unpack ways to help this increasing demographic.
Course Lessons
GERO 201: Multiple Losses and Issues in Aging
In the latter years of life, older adults experience a series of losses. These losses can be termed role exits. The role exits may be by choice or circumstance and involve every relationship and aspect of life. Helping older adults find the personal and spiritual strength to deal with the multiple losses of aging is the challenge ahead for counselors, coaches, and caregivers.
GERO 202: Loss of a Spouse
This session focuses on the crisis of losing a spouse in old age. The grieving process will be discussed as well as the feelings that may come with the loss of a spouse or loved one. Additionally, other losses that may come as a result of a spouse’s death are identified. Various techniques that may be effective in assisting clients that have suffered the loss of a spouse will be detailed.
GERO 203: Elderly Suicide and Homicide
In this session, participants will be guided through the warning signs, risks, treatments, and prevention strategies of suicide and homicide. Special attention will be given to the rising problem of Intimate Partner Homicide and Suicide (IPHS).
GERO 204: Life Review and Aging
The focus of this session is on evidence-based practice models and methods of conducting and utilizing the reminiscence and life review that grew out of the intersection of Erik Erikson’s conceptualization of later life.
GERO 205: Financial Issues of Aging: Long-term Care
The study of long-term care covers medical, social, personal, supportive and specialized services required by individuals who have lost some ability to care for themselves due to disability or illness. This session introduces the components of long-term care and the importance of planning ahead so that individuals may maintain an optimum level of independence.
GERO 206: Financial Issues of Aging: Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid
As one ages, it is important to understand the different types of insurance programs. There are also varying degrees of coverage under each program, and by gaining a deeper understanding of each program, a person will be able to choose which programs would best meet their health related needs.
GERO 207: End-of-Life: Family Issues and Decision Making
This session focuses on family issues and decision making that are part of the end-of-life experience with the elderly. Level of care and specific interventions are also addressed.
GERO 208: Palliative Care and Dying
This session gives an introduction to palliative care, both as it is provided to patients seeking curative treatments and for those whose disease is beyond a human cure. The audience will learn how palliative care addresses physical, emotional, social and spiritual pain.
GERO 209: Grief, Loss and Family Bereavement
Everyone experiences loss during his or her lifetime, especially the elderly. It is essential to remember that the grieving process is different for every individual. Counseling families who have experienced loss can be a complex task that should be carefully implemented.
GERO 210: Family Caregiving: Illness and Disability
This session focuses on informal or family caregiving. It will define family caregiving and examine the current state of family caregiving in the United States.
GERO 211: Family Caregiving and Resources in Alzheimer’s and Dementia
The session addresses the unique challenges and stresses of family caregiving for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It also addresses the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and the issues that create particularly high stress for caregivers.
GERO 212: Caregiving, Compassion Fatigue and Self-care
God knows the importance of taking time for oneself to be silent before Him and care for our minds. In completion of the sessions on gerontology, it is import to take time to give self-care. This session looks at stress and factors that impact the ability to render care for others and how to prevent stress from hindering the caregiving process.
professional gerontology coaching certification
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Industry Leading Faculty
Catherine Hart Weber, Ph.D.
JOHNNY PARKER, D.S.L.
JENNIFER ELLERS, M.A.
MARK CREAR, Ph.D.
Ted Cunningham, M.A.C.E.
Georgia Shaffer, M.A.
Valorie Burton, MAPP
SYLVIA HART FREJD, D.Min.
Tim Clinton, Ed.D.
Ben Allison, Esq., MBA
“AACC has trained thousands of coaches throughout the years and is now excited to help lead and train the next generation of Christian life coaches. Now, more than ever is the time for trained and specialized Christian coaches to meet the growing need for services.“