Today, Wellington Terrace and the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) held a grand opening ceremony for the Living Classroom Programme.
The Living Classroom is a training model designed to educate and prepare the next generation of health care students by immersing them directly in the operations of long-term care and retirement homes.
The Living Classroom fosters a team-based approach, bringing together faculty, residents, families, and care teams to create a rich learning environment that enhances both student education and resident well-being.
Each Living Classroom is designed to meet the unique needs of the partnering long-term care home and educational institution, ensuring that training methods and care approaches are adaptable, effective, and applicable to the needs of the people they care for.
Upon completing the 10-month Living Classroom Programme, students will receive their PSW certification; CPR and First Aid Certification; Gentle Persuasive Approach Certificate (GPA®) in Dementia Care; marketing skills; employer contacts; work experience; OSSD credits if required.
“We’re pleased to officially open the Living Classroom Programme at Wellington Terrace with our partners at the UGDSB,” said Warden Chris White. “As the demand and need for skilled and compassionate health care providers continues to grow, The Living Classroom Programme at Wellington Terrace will ensure that our students receive hands-on training to provide exceptional senior care upon graduation.”
“By learning directly within a long-term care home, our learners gain real-world experience that makes a real difference,” said Peter Sovran, UGDSB Director of Education. “We’re proud to work with Wellington Terrace to support exceptional student learning and high-quality health care in our community.”
Background
A pioneering partnership in 2009 between Conestoga College, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA), and Schlegel Villages launched our Living Classroom programme. The programme is currently funded by the Government of Ontario and led by the RIA through the Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI), in partnership with the Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA). There are over 20 Living Classrooms across Ontario, with that number expected to grow.
For more information, visit: www.livingclassroom.ca
Media Contacts:
Suzanne Dronick, Wellington Terrace Administrator, 519.846.5359 x 7222, suzannedr@wellington.ca
Heather Loney, Communications Manager, 519.822.4420 x 725, Heather.loney@ugdsb.on.ca