Designed to fit around your life
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Study around your life
No fixed timetable and no commute. Log in on a lunch break, in the evening or at the weekend, and work at whatever pace suits you.
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A qualification that counts
Every course leads to a nationally recognised qualification from an established awarding body, not a certificate of attendance.
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A real tutor, not just a website
You submit your work to a tutor who reads it and writes back within five working days, and who you can reach by email or phone during office hours.
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Funded for eligible adults
For most adults aged 19 and over living in England, the Adult Skills Fund covers the tuition, the materials and the assessment.
This course will develop your knowledge and understanding of caring for the elderly. It is designed for those who wish to understand the principles of elderly care, and learn more about common health issues and legislation that relates to elderly care. All units are compulsory.
Unit 1: Principles of elderly care in the UK (9 questions)
- Section 1: Understand the context of elderly care in the UK (4 questions)
- Section 2: Understand the range of care available (3 questions)
- Section 3: Understand regulation by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) (2 questions)
Unit 1 Summary: In this unit, learn what caring for elderly is, about ageing populations and the range of care available. This unit also covers the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Unit 2: Maintaining health and well-being in elderly care (12 questions)
- Section 1: Understand individuality and independence (4 questions)
- Section 2: Understand the importance of service users maintain contact with and support from friends and family (1 question)
- Section 3: Understand how to maintain the health and well-being of the elderly in care (8 questions)
Unit 2 Summary: In this unit, discover the role that individuality and independence has in elderly care, how important contact is between family/ friends and service users, and how maintaining health and well-being is key for care workers.
Unit 3: Common health issues affecting individuals in elderly care (27 questions)
- Section 1: Understand how to deal with health issues in elderly care (2 questions)
- Section 2: Understand the impact of dementia (6 questions)
- Section 3: Understand urinary tract health issues (3 questions)
- Section 4: Understand pneumonia (3 questions)
- Section 5: Understand wounds and healing (4 questions)
- Section 6: Understand depression (3 questions)
- Section 7: Understand arthritis (3 questions)
- Section 8: Understand end of life care (3 questions)
Unit 3 Summary: This unit will cover the signs, symptoms and how to support service users with dementia, urinary tract health issues, pneumonia, wounds and healing, depression and arthritis. The section will also cover end of life care.
Unit 4: Individual rights in elderly care (19 questions)
- Section 1: Understand how to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults in elderly care settings (3 questions)
- Section 2: Understand how to recognise that a vulnerable adult has been abused (3 questions)
- Section 3: Understand how to respond to evidence or concerns that vulnerable adult has been abused (4 questions)
- Section 4: Understand equality and diversity in a care setting (4 questions)
- Section 5: Understand legislation affecting service user’s rights in a care setting (5 questions)
Unit 4 Summary: In this unit, learn about safeguarding and protecting vulnerable adults, recognising abuse and responding to abuse, equality and diversity, and the legislation in place.
Unit 5: Minimising risk in elderly care (23 questions)
- Section 1: Understand the importance of risk assessment in elderly care settings (3 questions)
- Section 2: Understand manual handling in elderly care settings (2 questions)
- Section 3: Understand risks from hazardous substances in elderly care settings (4 questions)
- Section 4: Understand the risk of infection in elderly care settings (5 questions)
- Section 5: Understand how to deal with accidents in elderly care settings (5 questions)
- Section 6: Understand the safe administration of medicines in elderly care settings (5 questions)
Unit 5 Summary: In this unit, learn about the risk assessments, manual handling, hazardous substances, risk of infections, dealing with incidents and safe administration of medicines.
Unit 6: Communication in elderly care (9 questions)
- Section 1: Understand the importance of communication in elderly care settings (3 questions)
- Section 2: Understand how to communicate with a client moving into a care home and their family (3 questions)
- Section 3: Understand the skills required to work in elderly care settings (3 questions)
Unit 6 Summary: In this final unit, learn about communication within elderly care settings, moving into a care home and the skills that are required for care workers.
Learning Method(s)
Paper materials
Online assessment
Paper assessment
What studying online actually looks like
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Everything happens online
The course runs on our online learning platform. There is no need to attend college at any point, though you are welcome to if you would rather work here.
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You submit work as you go
Each unit ends in questions you answer and send to your tutor through the platform. There is no exam hall and no fixed deadline to sit anything.
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Your tutor writes back
You get full written feedback on every assessment within five working days, and your tutor is available by email or phone during office hours if you get stuck.
Who can study these courses?
Funding eligibility
Funding is set nationally. To study one of these courses at no cost you need to be:
- Aged 19 or over
- Currently living in England
- Resident in the UK or EU for the last three years, for reasons other than study
- Not currently on an apprenticeship
For this course
- Perfect for beginners
Withdrawals
Your Tutor will provide support and guidance throughout your qualification. In return, we expect learners to demonstrate commitment and engagement in completing the qualification within the academic year.
If no work is submitted for a period of four consecutive weeks, and no mitigating circumstances have been communicated, we will assume that you wish to withdraw from the course. Where mitigating circumstances apply, you must inform your Tutor as soon as possible by telephone or email so that appropriate support and arrangements can be considered.
Please note that, should you be withdrawn from the programme, an administration withdrawal fee of £249 will be payable. This fee covers administrative costs only and is not a charge for tuition.
Four steps from here to qualified
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1
Find the course
Browse by subject or search for what you need. Every course page lists the units, how long it takes and who it suits.
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2
Apply online
Fill in the form. It takes a few minutes and you do not need anything to hand.
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We check you are eligible
We confirm the funding, set up your account on the learning platform and introduce you to your tutor.
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Study at your own pace
Work through the units in your own time, send your assessments to your tutor, and finish with a qualification.