Recreation Management for Older Adults Ontario College Graduate Certificate
ObjectivesThis post-degree/diploma program provides the specialized skills, knowledge and attitudes required to manage recreation programs for older adults, and to provide leadership in the field of leisure services for older adults. Students will obtain specialized training in older adult program design, implementation and management concepts. Course content will focus on both the active and frail older adult. Recreation Management for Older Adults is offered on a part-time basis and can be completed over a one year period. Courses are delivered in modules over three full days every six weeks through on-site facilitation and combined with distance education, using online components for group work sessions. This new and innovative program addresses the need for experts in the expanding field of management and leadership in recreation programs for older adults. Graduates from this program will find employment opportunities in many agencies including: municipalities, non-profit agencies, older adult centers, retirement homes and long term care facilities.
Entry requirementsThis program will be of particular interest to current recreation practitioners and new graduates in human services-related fields.
Academic titleRecreation Management for Older Adults Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Course descriptionREC8150 Community Resources, Funding and Partnerships
Description: In this course, the student will acquire the knowledge and skills required to research potential partners who could support an older adult program or leisure service initiative. Current local, regional, provincial and federal older adult initiatives will be examined and the role that non-profit organizations play in the provisions of services for older adults will be explored. Models of governance will be investigated. Advocating for programs and services and generating operational dollars is a challenge of all practitioners of older adult programs. This course will explore program and service marketing, resource acquisition and revenue generation in detail. The learner will also explore appropriate methods to seek political and community support through community capacity building.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
REC8160 Facilitation, Leisure Education and Counselling for Older Adults
Description: This course provides the learner with the opportunity to develop their personal facilitation skills as they relate to older adult programs and services. The learner will study specific techniques and methodologies related to facilitation. The course also focuses on communication and behaviour management through the development of leisure education and counselling skills. The learner will be challenged to transfer the theoretical based learning into practice.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
REC8190 Management of Programs and Services for Older Adults
Description: This course is designed to provide the learner with the knowledge, skills and practical applications required to manage, lead and facilitate recreation programs and services. Learners are encouraged to integrate concepts and models of leadership theory with practical applications in the field of older adults. Management functions and roles will be discussed along with managing risks and ?standard of care? with regards to supervision practices. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing effective interpersonal and conflict resolution skills in working with older adults.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
REC8230 Innovative Programming for Older Adults
Description: A comprehensive study of the principles and practices of programming for active and frail older adults will be undertaken in this course. Specific attention will be given to the diverse roles of the programmer and to the continuum of direct to indirect service provision. The course will emphasize older adult-centered and situationally focused recreation program management. An overview of the therapeutic recreation process that includes the theoretical and practical techniques used to develop specialized programs will be explored. The learner will be introduced to the concepts inherent to evidence-based practice, and the tasks and steps necessary to its implementation. Techniques for involving and empowering active and frail older adults will be discussed. This course will investigate best practices in innovative programming for active and frail older adults
Hours: 60
Credits: 4
REC8270 Engaging with Older Adults
Description: This course presents and investigates the emotional, physical, financial and spiritual needs of the active and frail older adult. It is designed to study aging from a Canadian perspective. The student will refine the knowledge and understanding necessary to work with older adults. A profile of the older adult population will be explored and its implications evaluated. An overview of the theoretical perspectives on aging will be reviewed and debated. Dementia and illnesses of older adults will be examined. The issues connected to aging and loss will be explored. The concepts of quality of life and living with dignity will be uncovered. Emphasis is placed on attitudes towards aging, myths that can shape our social behaviour and the evolution of programs and services pursued by the new generation of older adults. The student will be challenged to transfer the theoretical based learning into practice.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
REC8280 Volunteer Management
Description: This course will focus on volunteer management related to the provision of recreation programs and services to older adults. The course will investigate the volunteer management cycle as it relates to this specific population. The benefits of volunteering as an older adult will be discussed. The changing profile of the older adult volunteer will be addressed. The student will be challenged to explore policies and procedures as they relate to volunteer management in settings for older adults.
Hours: 45
Credits: 3
Electives: Program Option
Description: Student must pass 1 Course(s)
Elective Courses:
REC8290 Field Placement Recreation Management for Older Adults
Description: The student under the supervision of the Field Placement Supervisor will complete a field placement in an older adult agency approved by the Program Coordinator. The placement opportunity will focus on a "hands-on" opportunity for the learner to make application of the academic knowledge to the practical experiences faced in the actual "work world" of programming leadership. The prime focus of the field placement for the learner is based on experiential learning. The student will actively participate in key competency areas during the placement experience. These may include personal and professional development, client groups, operations and programming, issues in providing services to older adults, volunteers, and community resources and partnerships for older adults.
Hours: 140
Credits: 5
REC8300 Independent Learning Project Recreation Management for Older Adults
Description: The student, under the supervision of the Faculty Advisor, will complete an independent learning project approved by the Program Co-ordinator. The learning project may involve activities such as assistance to older adults, community outreach programs, policy analysis, intergenerational program initiatives, training manuals, new program initiatives or related work intended to improve the quality of life of older adults. The independent learning project will focus on the application of academic knowledge to the practical realities faced in the actual "work world" of programming leadership. The key areas on which it will focus may include personal and professional development, client group, operations and programming, issues in providing services to older adults, volunteers, and community resources and partnerships for older adults.
Hours: 140
Credits: 5