New Infection Prevention and Control of Caregivers and Families course offered by MCE

COVID-19 has shown us how quickly infection can spread and the importance of keeping ourselves and loved ones safe. McMaster University Continuing Education has developed and launched a free online, self-paced course, Infection Prevention and Control of Caregivers and Families.

Recognized by healthcare professionals and associations across Canada, the course will help participants learn best practice techniques in infection control to use at home and in health settings such as hospitals and long-term care homes, while there is acknowledgement that every institutional setting has its own practices. Although infectious disease control training materials are available to healthcare professionals, there is a gap in high-quality online courses for caregivers and families. McMaster Continuing Education’s goal is to close that gap.

Dr. Lorraine Carter, Director, McMaster Continuing Education believes in the importance of community education through online learning approaches, saying, “Infection prevention and control is something we can teach virtually, and the need is there.” Carter continued, “Providing lifelong learning is our mission and we will continue to develop and offer educational supports for our community, especially during this challenging time.”

The course will be facilitated by McMaster Continuing Education’s Caregiving Essentials subject matter expert and instructor, Donna Thomson, who can speak from personal experience as a family caregiver. Thomson found herself in the caregiver role when her son was born with severe cerebral palsy, and later her mother entered a long-term care home. She sees the need for this program, especially during a time when many suddenly find themselves in caregiving roles and are unsure of the complexities of keeping themselves and their care recipients safe, saying, “As someone who has been a caregiver for over 30 years, I too found myself navigating the COVID-19 pandemic alone. Without these types of offerings, family caregivers are left in the dark during some of the most difficult times in their lives.”

The course explores topics including infection and germs, hand hygiene and handwashing, PPE best practices, environmental cleaning and navigating infection realities during the pandemic. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a co-branded McMaster Continuing Education and Desire2Learn Open Courses Certificate of Completion to recognize their achievement. McMaster Continuing Education wishes to thank The Ontario Caregiver Organization and Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement for their support of the Infection Prevention and Control for Caregivers and Families course.

McMaster University Continuing Education has inspired people to discover and achieve through lifelong learning since 1931. As one of Canada’s largest and leading providers of continuing education for adult learners, McMaster Continuing Education’s purpose is to develop and realize the potential of both individuals and society by providing the education to thrive in today’s dynamic world.

For more information, please visit: https://continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs/health-social-services/infection-prevention-and-control-of-caregivers-and-families/.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Lorraine Carter
Director, McMaster University Continuing Education
cartel1@mcmaster.ca
(289) 244-1632