Touro University Nevada has chosen to add the highly recognized Senior Home Safety Specialist certification to their 2022 OT Doctoral Curriculum. The course provider, Age Safe America LLC, is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider for continuing education.

The College curriculum review committee approved the Senior Home Safety Specialist (SHSS) course for the advanced elective class Adults/Older Adults, with the first offering of the course having just begun. Third year OTD students who choose this area of practice for their capstone experience, can take the training as part of their off-site hours.

Touro University Nevada (TUN) is a private university in Henderson, Nevada. It is part of the Touro College and University System. Touro University Nevada was established to help address critical needs in health care and education, and as a resource for community service in Nevada. Touro Nevada is home to a wide range of degree programs, many of these programs are the first of their kind in Nevada. The Touro University Nevada is the only accredited occupational therapy doctoral degree program in the state. Students learn in a group setting about this dynamic, growing field that solves everyday challenges for patients of all ages.

“Occupational Therapists (OTs) have a strong foundation in home modifications, home safety and aging in place. The SHSS certification adds advanced training in this area to allow OTs and OT students to continue to lead in this area of practice. TUN’s OT program is the first of its kind to include this training for students, which sets Touro apart from other OT programs. Students who complete the course are awarded the certification after graduation. So far, the students who have taken the SHSS course have given it excellent reviews”, stated Linda Frasier, OTD, Associate Professor and Capstone Coordinator at TUN School of Occupational Therapy.

The addition of the Senior Home Safety Specialist certification into the Touro Nevada Occupational Therapy Doctoral Degree program curriculum further demonstrates the importance of home safety for older adults, the growing interest in the aging in place field, and professional acceptance of SHSS designation. This uniquely relevant coursework will benefit students by expanding their knowledge and training in home safety and home evaluation as it pertains to older adults aging in place. They will also be able to add this certification to their resumes when applying for fieldwork/internship positions.

Some may want to specialize in this practice area so when OT students move to the doctoral capstone experience, this is another benefit to their training and specialization. The students who choose an aging in place/home modification related doctoral capstone project in their 3rd year can take the course.

The Senior Home Safety Specialist course empowers professionals with actionable ways to better help educate clients, older adults and their family members on the serious issues of home safety, fall prevention, fire safety, home modification, mobility and accessibility issues, considerations for Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Also, communication skills with seniors and family members, senior safety technology, financial exploitation, crime prevention and personal safety.

This comprehensive 5-hour, 17-module self-paced online course offers the only certificate of its kind to individuals within the senior services industry. The course includes a downloadable PDF version of the 240-point home safety assessment tool that is covered extensively within the coursework.

“Working with Touro University professors and academic fieldwork coordinators has been a really great experience. It is exciting to know that all these passionate new practitioners will gain important home safety knowledge, a holistic understanding of aging in place principles, and an industry credential, by taking our course as part of the OTD program,” said Fritzi Gros-Daillon, Director of Education for Age Safe America LLC.

[Source(s): Age Safe America LLC, PRWeb]