Overview
Complete the Caregiving Essentials program and earn a microcredential
Upon successfully completing this program, you will receive a microcredential recognizing your learning achievement. Complete with details of the skills and specialized knowledge you have acquired, the microcredential is digitally shareable, making it easy to add to your resume, LinkedIn profile and to share with current or prospective employers.
Get the essential caregiving information and support you need
If you’re a caregiver, the Caregiver Essentials program was created for you. It offers valuable knowledge and skills meant to benefit caregivers in any way they choose.
- Offers valuable information and support, as well as ways to improve your overall health and well-being as a caregiver
- In collaboration with the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA), THRIVE Group, and McMaster Continuing Education, with funding provided by the Ontario Ministry of Seniors Affairs and further funding from the Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario
- FREE, self-paced online, not-for-credit program
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Program highlights Learn More
- Online, not-for-credit program
- Taught by an experienced caregiver, author, and activist
- Earn a microcredential
What you'll learn Learn More
- The role of a caregiver
- Taking care of your health and well-being
- Legal and financial considerations
Stay tuned for our upcoming enrolment intake on Tuesday, October 10, 2023!
Learn more about the Caregiving Essentials program
- Anyone who acts as a formal or informal caregiver
- Anyone who is considering taking on the role of a caregiver for an older adult
- Caregiver
- Social worker
- Home care business owner
- Improved health and well-being for you as a caregiver
- Improved confidence in your role as a caregiver
- More positive attitude toward your caregiver role
- Easier navigation of our healthcare system for the support you need
Interested in more information about our program?
Watch Caregiving Essentials facilitator, Donna Thomson, speak about the program in our YouTube video (above).
What our recent course participants say
Our course participants were in different stages of their caregiving journeys. We heard from people who had just started to become more involved in care, to people who had been providing care for decades or more.
“The material was very well organized... It lent itself well to doing things independently and online which is what I was looking for.”
“It built my confidence because when your loved one becomes ill, it's very overwhelming. This kind of calmed me down and said, 'Yeah, I can do this. I can handle this.’”
Other programs you may be interested in
Microcredential in Caregiving Essentials
Microcredential in Caregiving Essentials
Pursue your Microcredential Certification of Assessed Learning in Caregiving Essentials with McMaster Continuing Education
Explore the requirements below and register today!
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Microcredential in Caregiving Essentials
Earn your digital microcredential in Caregiving Essentials by scoring at least 80% on all quizzes
Registration opens Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
What is a microcredential?
A microcredential is a certification of assessed learning associated with specific and relevant skills or competencies. In this case, it recognizes the skills and knowledge acquired in the Caregiving Essentials course. The credential earned is issued to you by email in a digital format.
How can you use your microcredential?
You can use a digital microcredential in a number of ways. You can share it on Facebook and LinkedIn, or you can add it to your resume. If you do not want to share your microcredential online, you can print a copy of it and give it to someone including an employer or prospective employer. Or you might want to print and frame it for yourself.
How does this microcredential differ from the Certificate of Completion you can print from the D2L course site?
Both are valuable. However, digital credentials are becoming increasingly important because they are so easy to share. They are also secured (only you have access to it) and are validated. In the case of the microcredential for Caregiving Essentials, it is validated by McMaster Continuing Education.
When will microcredentials be issued?
The digital credential for Caregiving Essentials will be issued 3 times a year: January (October – December), May (January – April) and August (May – August). Students who took the course and met the 80% requirement on the quizzes will receive the microcredential.
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Caregiving Essentials Webinars
Caregiving Essentials Webinars
Upcoming webinars
The Caregiving Essentials webinar series will run from October 2023 – August 2024. Stay tuned for more webinars links!
Who Cares about Caregiving in Canada?
Caregiving Webinars, Health, Webinars
Talking About Death Won't Kill You
Caregiving Webinars, Health, Webinars
Previous Caregiving Essentials Webinars
You can access previous webinars from this playlist:
Articles you may be interested in
Les Soins Essentiels
Les Soins Essentiels
Inscription Maintenant Ouverte
Agissez-vous en tant qu’aidant familial ou informel d’une personne âgée? Vous êtes à la recherche d’informations et de soutien?
Les soins essentiels est un cours en ligne gratuit et non-crédité conçu pour soutenir et guider tous les aidants ou personnes francophones ou francophile. Vous pouvez compléter le contenu du cours et les activités à votre rythme, quand cela vous convient. Le cours vous guidera à travers cinq modules, et vous dirigera vers une grande variété de ressources.
Le travail pour développer ce cours, dirigé par le Département de la formation continue de l’Université McMaster, l’Université Laurentienne, et le Collège Boréal. Ce projet est rendu possible grâce au financement du gouvernement de l’Ontario et au soutien d’eCampusOntario à l’égard de la Stratégie d’apprentissage virtuel. Pour en savoir plus sur la Stratégie d’apprentissage virtuel, consultez le site https://vls.ecampusontario.ca/fr.
Ouverture des inscriptions le mardi 10 octobre 2023.
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Caregiving Essentials Resources and Studies
Caregiving Essentials Resources and Studies
Resources
Ontario Caregiver Organization
The OCO offers a 24/7 Helpline for Caregiver information and referral. The Helpline can be reached across the province anytime, at 1-833-416-CARE (2273) or via live chat Monday to Friday from 7am to 9pm. Learn more.
Book: The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation From Loved One to Caregiver
“You don’t step into the caregiver role, it steps into you.” – Dr. Zachary White and Donna Thomson (Course Instructor)
New Caregiving Podcast Series for Caregivers
The Waiting Room
Revolution is a new podcast series for patients and caregivers of individuals with serious illnesses. It is designed to help caregivers plan and anticipate events in their loved ones’ illness journey rather than react in a constant state of chaos and crisis.
Video: Growing Together: Transformation to Caregiving
Studies
Once you are registered as a Caregiving Essentials student, don’t forget to check the discussion boards in the course regularly. They are a great way to share your experience and knowledge while supporting other caregivers and receiving support. There are new resources added every day in the section called “Where to Find Help” so check in often.
Below are just a few of these resources:
Free, flexible programs for busy caregivers by the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO)
The OCO also offers a 24/7 Helpline for Caregiver information and referral. The Helpline can be reached across the province anytime, at 1-833-416-CARE (2273) or via live chat Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm EST.
Find out more: www.ontariocaregiver.ca.
Subscribe to the OCO newsletter to receive updates about program registration: https://ontariocaregiver.ca/getinvolved/subscribe/
As you may or may not know, every year, the Ontario Caregiver Organization publishes its Spotlight Report which takes a look at the caregiving experience in Ontario. This year, the OCO looked at how the experience has changed in year two of the pandemic, compared to year one. Read the full report here.
McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA)
The link to the main website for the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging is https://mira.mcmaster.ca/.
Another link you may want to explore goes to McMaster’s Optimal Aging Portal. This portal is a rich repository of information that may help you in your caregiving role and in understanding health and illness as we age: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/