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Nature of course request C00871 :

New course Undergraduate

First term offered : Fall 2010
Course Prefix&Number Descriptive Title Credits/Hours
GERO 470 Regulatory and Clinical Operations of Long Term Care 4 - 4




Abbreviation for Class Schedule(20 spaces)
LTC Regul/Clinical
Catalog Description:
¿ This course will familiarize the student with the basic aspects of nursing home administration through the practical application of management theory and concepts. The course will also familiarize students with basic regulations and audits that are applied to long term care facilities. Students will learn how to maximize resident and patient quality of life through an interdisciplinary approach to long-term care management (e.g., psychological, sociocultural, and biological considerations).
Course Goal and Objectives:
¿ Develop an understanding of retirement communities and how they can maximize quality of life if operated properly. ¿ Develop an understanding of the long-term care industry communities and how these facilities can maximize quality of life if operated properly. ¿ Develop an understanding and appreciation for the aging in place model. ¿ Learn about the history of long-term care as well current trends. ¿ Develop a basic understanding of Medicare and Medicaid and how they relate to standard practices in long-term care. ¿ Develop an understanding of how external constituents interact with facility management. ¿ Appreciate how quality of life can be maximized through applying an interdisciplinary approach to long-term care management (e.g., psychological, sociocultural, economic, and biological considerations)
Justification for adding the course (e.g. alignment with other institutions, program revision, etc.):
In Spring 2010 the Psychology Division at WOU surveyed graduating Psychology Majors about their interest in courses related to older adults and employment opportunities associated with the field of gerontology and geropsychology. Despite very limited advertising for our new minor in Geropsychology (approved Summer 2010), 43% of graduating seniors indicated great or very great interest in taking Geropsychology courses, and 31% showed great or very great interest in minoring in Geropsychology. Additionally, seniors were interested in a variety of employment opportunities associated with the field, with the greatest interest shown for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Social Work, public and private institutions that provide health, education, and social services to older adults, and public policy and advocate work for older adults. We didn¿t survey these students about an interest in majoring in gerontology, but clearly there is an interest in this field, which is fabulous given the needs that industry has for people trained to work with older adults There is a need for trained professionals to work in the numerous fields related to gerontology, elder care services, and geriatric medicine. Oregon and the nation¿s population are undergoing a dramatic increase in the percentage of older adults. According to data compiled by the Administration on Aging1, by the year 2030 there will be approximately 70 million Americans age 65 and over, up from 40 million in 2010. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Oregon¿s older adult population is increasing at a rate of 3.5% as compared to the national median of 2.6%.2 Given these demographic changes it is fitting that Western Oregon University develop program offerings that will help serve this growing population. In addition to the growing older adult population that will require specialized services, there are also unmet work force training needs. According the U.S. Department of Labor, employment in home health care services are expected to increase 69.5% between 2004 and 2014, during the same time period, community care services for the elderly are expected to see a 54.8% increase in the need for qualified employees. People from a broad range of career fields who have received training in gerontology will be very marketable and provide important services for our community. The aging population is driving much of the increased need in the medical field. An understanding of gerontology will help people who go into the following professions: medical assistants (52.1% increase expected between 2004 and 2014) physical therapists (36.7%), physical therapy assistants (44.2%), occupational therapists (33.6%), occupational therapy assistants (34.1%), as well as nurses and many other human service careers. The following are examples of some of the numerous employment opportunities in the following fields that would be beneficial to someone trained in gerontology: ¿ Long term care administration ¿ Skilled nursing care administration ¿ Senior center operations and management ¿ Occupational Therapy ¿ Home health care ¿ Physical Therapy ¿ Speech Language Pathologists ¿ Teaching ¿ Nursing ¿ Nursing assistants ¿ Recreational therapists ¿ Social work ¿ Research that focus on older adults' needs and interests ¿ Public and private institutions that provide health, education, and social services to older adults ¿ Senior care services ¿ Hospice ¿ Palliative care ¿ Public policy and advocacy for older adults References 1. www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/Profile/.../2002profile.doc 2. www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/CB04-36TABLE4.xls
Faculty and facilities needed:
We anticipate needing at least one new tenure track and some NTT FTE to cover the new Gerontology Major. This course would probably be taught by a new faculty member.
Brief Course outline:
1. Overview of Long Term Care 2. History of Long Term Care 3. Medicare and Long Term Care 4. Medicaid and Long Term Care 5. Oversight and Regulations in Long Term Care 6. Quality of Life Considerations in Long Term Care 7. Long Term Care Organizational Structures 8. Working with External Constituents (e.g., owners, boards, advisory bodies, and community partners) 9. Clinical Aspects of Long Term Care 10. Managing Clinical Staff 11. Contract Clinical Staff


Approval Queue C00871
Step Approver Decision Timestamp
1 - Department Rob Winningham ApprovedOctober 06 2010
2 - Division Rob Winningham ApprovedOctober 06 2010
3 - Division Curriculum Eric Cooley ApprovedOctober 07 2010
5 - Curriculum Committee Robert Monge ApprovedOctober 19 2010
6 - Faculty Senate Gavin Keulks ApprovedNovember 09 2010
Comments: Approved 11/9/2010, faculty senate
7 - Dean Stephen Scheck ApprovedNovember 13 2010
8 - Provost Kent Neely ApprovedNovember 14 2010


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