Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE GER2024

 
TITLE Field Placement in Gerontological and Geriatric Settings

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 12

 
DEPARTMENT Gerontology and Dementia Studies

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit 'Field placement in gerontological and geriatric settings' seeks to blend the theoretical knowledge gained during lectures with a practical aptitude in actual service provision. Students will be placed in a variety of Church-run, private and public organisations which provide: gerontological and geriatric community care services; night shelter and respite services to older persons; domiciliary care services in podiatry, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and dentistry to older persons; intervention teams for persons with dementia; home-based geriatric care to older persons; care homes providing residential service to older persons; long-term care facilities responsible for continuing nursing services to frail older persons and others with dementia; Centres for Active Ageing which organise active ageing sessions for older persons living in the community; and Dementia Care Centres which organise active ageing session to older persons with dementia.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit 'Field placement in gerontological and geriatric settings' will provide students opportunities of observation in ageing welfare provision, the opportunity to learn from a variety of experienced leaders in the field, and the possibility of minor involvement roles in community and residential care service delivery, as well as nursing and dementia care services. Building on the theoretical knowledge assimilated in the Higher Diploma's study-units, this ‘hands on’ study-unit will aid the students to observe and understand the salient issues relating to proactive planning and management approaches in the provision of social and health care services to older persons. The latter include the home-help, handyman, social work, meals-on-wheels, Telecare Plus, Dementia Intervention Team, the ‘carer-at-home’ amenity, and residential care services. The study-unit will thus provide students to observe the continuum of the provision of public community, residential, and long-term care services for older persons by being present at the assessment, multi-and inter-disciplinary decision meetings, and receipt of service by the applicant. Students are expected to evaluate their on-going fieldwork in a reflexive manner by gaining familiarization of their experiences but also through critically appraisal. The Practice Placement will be organised around three separate placements, each 80 hours duration, and throughout each one of the three semesters. This Study-Unit is coordinated by an academic resident with expertise in geriatric care management, and assisted by colleagues whose expertise is in gerontological service mapping and delivery.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- recognise the application and assessment procedure for the provision of community, residential, and long-term care services for older persons;
- describe the procedure as how multi-disciplinary teams discuss applications and take the appropriate decisions;
- classify which particular needs lead to particular social and health care services in later life;
- explain the admission process in residential and long-term care facilities;
- report how residential and long-term care facilities include many older persons who can still live in their residence with appropriate and person-centred care services;
- differentiate the aim and objectives of community, domiciliary, residential and long-term care services;
- classify the distinct needs of persons with dementia;
- describe the extent that residential facilities continue tend to limit autonomy, personal choice, and active citizenship;
- discuss the quality of care being given by social and health care professionals employed in community and residential care settings.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- appraise the application and assessment procedure for older persons to receive social and health care services;
- identify the needs of older persons who apply for community, residential, and long-term care services;
- estimate the daily challenges that services providers experience in their efforts to deliver community and residential care services;
- examine the basic human needs of a resident in residential and long-term care;
- evaluate the level of involvement of older persons in the decision-making process in ageing welfare service provision;
- inspect the extent that the services and programmes in active ageing reflect and meet the needs of older persons;
- investigate the extent that Active Ageing Hubs are allowing older persons to engage in active citizenship;
- list the reasons that demonstrate how domiciliary care constitutes the ideal way to enable older persons to 'age-in-place'; and
- illustrate how service provision in gerontology and geriatrics both safeguards and limits the human rights of older persons.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Cress, C. (2015) (Ed.), Handbook of geriatric care management (4th Edition). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Downs M., & Bowers B. J. (Eds) (2014). Excellence in dementia care: research into practice. New York: McGraw-Hill Publications.
- McGarry, J. & Clissett, P. (2013). Placement learning in older adult nursing: A guide for students in practice. Kent: Bailliere Tindall.
- Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing (2013). National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing: Malta 2014 - 2020. Malta: Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing.
- Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing (2015). Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older Persons. Malta: Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing.

Supplementary Readings:

- Formosa, M. (2105). Ageing policy in Malta: Issues, policies and future trends. Malta: Book Distributors Limited.
- Formosa, M., & Scerri, C. (eds.) (2015). Population ageing in Malta: Multidisciplinary perspectives. Malta: Malta University Press.
- Ham, R.J., Sloane, P.D & Warshaw, G.A. (2007). Ham's primary care geriatrics: A case-based approach. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
- Mattu, A., Grossma, S.A. & Rosen, P.L (2016). Geriatric emergencies: A discussion-based review. Hoboken, NJ.: John Wiley & Sons.
- Pathy, J.M.S., Sinclair, A.J., Morley, J.E. (2006). Principles and practice of geriatric medicine (4th edition). Hoboken, NJ.: John Wiley & Sons.
- Nicholl, C.W. & Wilson, C.J. (2012). Elderly care medicine (8th edition). Hoboken, NJ.: John Wiley & Sons.
- Scerri, C. (2012), Challenges of developing a dementia strategy: The case of Malta. In A. Innes, F. Kelly & L. McCabe (eds.), Key issues in Evolving Dementia Care (pp. 150-172). London: Jessica Kingsley.
- Wachtel, T.J. & Fretwell, M.D. (2007). Practical guide to the care of the geriatric patient (3rd edition). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES This study-unit is only offered to students following the Higher Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics course.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Placement

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Portfolio See note below Yes 50%
Assignment See note below Yes 50%
Note: Assessment due date will be notified by the Faculty/Institute/Centre/School.

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
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It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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