Excellence in Resident-Centred Care (ERCC) is a Conestoga College certificate program designed for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and other team member’s to build practical skills using a person-centred approach, developed in partnership with Schlegel-UW Research Institute of Aging.

ERCC uses a train-the-trainer model to build capacity within long-term care (LTC) homes. Select team members complete the ERCC Trainer Course to become Trainers and deliver the ERCC Team Member Course to fellow team members within their LTC home. The education is delivered by Conestoga College, and features online registration and online course components delivered through the easy-to-use eConestoga platform. A Conestoga College certificate is earned through completion of the course.

The goal of ERCC is to support better care and better outcomes for residents in LTC, but it also benefits LTC team members and LTC homes. ERCC has been shown to increase PSW and other team member’s self-confidence, job satisfaction and improve team morale.

Five features make this course unique:

• Practical care skills are taught within a resident-centred framework
• Visually enhanced learning objects bring course content to life
• Highly interactive course content allows students to directly apply new knowledge and skills their practice
• Course delivery uses a peer-led-train-the-trainer model where PSWs are certified to deliver the modules to their fellow team members
• Graduates receive a certificate from Conestoga College

Organizations that train 70% or more of their PSW team receive special recognition and a certificate.

About the Modules

ERCC is made up of 15 modules that represent salient topics identified in consultation with the LTC home sector.  All 15 modules are covered in the ERCC Trainer Course and 7 modules are covered in the ERCC Team Member Course. Modules 1 and 12 are mandatory for team members, and the remaining modules can be selected by the LTC home. The modules include:

1. Person-Centred Care

Review principles of a person-centred approach to care: respect, dignity and choice. Identify strategies to optimize this approach and reinforce the importance of working as a team in long-term care and retirement living.

2. Infection Prevention and Control

Review principles of infection prevention and control and hand hygiene practices. Learn the signs and symptoms of infection and strategies to optimize infection prevention and control.

3. Safety and Mobility

Review principles of safety and mobility. Identify factors influencing resident safety including potential signs of abuse and neglect and strategies for optimizing resident safety and mobility.

4. Oral Care and Skin Integrity

Review principles of oral hygiene and skin integrity and the proper steps for completing an oral and skin assessment. Identify proper techniques for oral and denture care and strategies to optimize skin integrity.

5. Continence

Review the principles of and strategies for optimizing continence and the potential implications of incontinence. Identify some of the signs and symptoms of urinary problems.

6. Nutrition and Hydration

Identify signs and symptoms of malnutrition and dehydration and factors that influence nutrition and hydration. Review the principles of and strategies for supporting nutrition and hydration.

7. Delirium, Dementia and Depression

Review the principles of delirium, dementia and depression and factors that influence behaviours. Identify signs and symptoms of delirium, dementia and depression and strategies for optimizing overall mental well-being.

8. Pain and Comfort

Review the principles of pain assessment and management, factors influencing pain and explore implications of unrelieved pain. Identify strategies for optimizing comfort.

9. Palliative/End-of-Life Care

Review the principles of a palliative approach and discuss quality of life, holistic care and a personal journey. Identify signs of imminent death and strategies to enhance psychosocial support for the dying person and family.

10. Self-Care

Review the principles of self-care and discuss the concepts of professionalism, leadership and resiliency. Explore strategies for care providers to manage stress and activate healthy coping.

11. Working with Others

Examine factors that influence healthy team dynamics and the potential implications of unhealthy work environments. Review the principles of and strategies to optimize team work and collaboration.

12. Observational Assessment

Review the principles of observational assessment and examine strategies that foster early identification to enhance documentation and communication of potential issues.

13. Dressing and Grooming

Review the concepts of time, support and assistance in relation to dressing and grooming. Explore factors and identify strategies to optimize the dressing and grooming experience.

14. Bathing and Spa Experience

Review the principles of the bathing and spa experience including the concepts of comfort, privacy and vulnerability. Examine factors and identify strategies to optimize the bathing and spa experience.

15. Sleep

Review the concepts of rest, fatigue and sleep and principles of sleep hygiene. Explore factors that negatively influence rest and sleep and identify strategies to optimize restful sleep.

Video about ERCC

Cost:

Between 2017-2020, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care provided funding for ERCC tuition and backfill to Ontario long-term care homes through the Ontario CLRI PSW Education Fund.  Applications are currently closed for the Fund.

For more information:

Contact info@clri-ltc.ca