Promotion of Well-Being and HealthLaajuus (8 ECTS)

Objective

Students recognise, analyse and apply into practice information on the well-being and health of the elderly. They are able to work with different kinds of old people when it comes to their functional capacity and to create an interactional client relationship based on guidance. Students are able to identify the factors promoting or threatening old people living especially in urban communities (private home, or care or service unit) when it comes to their well-being, social participation, functional ability and health behaviour. Students implement preventive geriatric work by applying work methods which include prevention of inclusion as well as promotion of health and mental health and functional capacity. Students implement early prevention and intervention to narrow health differences of the elderly and to prevent social exclusion and impaired functional capacity by guiding and instructing the old persons and their significant others.

Content

Basics of health promotion of old persons living at home, or care or service units, prevention of social exclusion and early intervention. Encountering the elderly and their guidance, for example patients suffering from different forms of memory disturbances. Factors threatening functional capacity and their prevention as well as actions promoting functional capacity. Assessment of functional capacity and central means of assessment and assessment instruments. Observing health behaviour and risk behaviour as well as social situations and changes in life situations. Basics of preventive mental health work. Comfortable lifestyle of the elderly. Nutrition and the elderly as well as the impact of nutrition on functional capacity. Oral health and sexual health of the elderly. Health guidance and interventions as well as stage theories of guidance. Psychosocial support. Principal methods of gerontological social work in promotion of welfare of the elderly. Practice 3 cr

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students master professional concepts, and they justify their choices using the comprehensive knowledge base, based on the client’s needs. Students assess systematically the prerequisites and consequences of their own actions.

Students act independently and professionally aiming at goals set to them in their operating environment as well as apply working methods appropriately and safely.

Students work according to professional ethics as well as commit themselves to the group, enhancing its functioning.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students master professional concepts and make choices together with the client using the comprehensive knowledge base. They also assess and develop their own functioning systematically.

Students act independently and professionally aiming at goals set to them in their operating environment. They also apply working methods flexibly and safely.

Students work according to professional ethics considering the characteristics of various situations, and in their work they commit themselves to the code of professional conduct.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students master professional concepts and make choices together with the client using the comprehensive knowledge base, in changing environments. They also assess their own functioning and produce knowledge to develop their operating environment.

Students act independently and professionally and develop their working and operating environments together with other actors.

Students work according to professional ethics considering the characteristics of complex and unpredictable situations. Their work develops and renews professional procedures and practices.