Research and experiential education collaboration to focus in the area of aging
Toronto, Canada, October 21, 2014 − York University and Revera Inc. are pleased to announce that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a research and education partnership in the area of aging. Their first joint undertaking is the creation of a specialized Director of Care Certificate in Clinical Leadership (DOCL) program. This program is designed to provide a specialized credentialed certificate in clinical leadership for Registered Nurses who hold or aspire to hold the role of Director of Care in a long term care home.
The first cohort of twenty students, comprised of Revera Long Term Care staff from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, started the class today. They will take four course modules over the next academic year, while continuing to work. The program emerged from the Certificate in Clinical Leadership (Health Leadership and Learning Network/Faculty of Health Continuing Education), led by Professor Deborah Tregunno and Revera leaders. The new DOC Clinical Leadership program is designed to integrate theory into practice and improve care for residents and families. Supporting Directors of Care in their clinical leadership demonstrates Revera’s deep commitment to gerontological nursing excellence.
“This partnership with York is something we are really proud of. The DOCL program is going to provide much needed advanced training for RNs taking on this crucial role,” says Joanne Dykeman, Vice President Clinical Services and Quality at Revera. “The role of Director of Care has increased in complexity along with the increased care needs of long term care residents. We’ve worked very closely with York and our most experienced Directors of Care to ensure that the curriculum delivers practical and essential leadership skills training.”
Besides the DOCL program, the partnership also encompasses opportunities for community-based experiential education for York University Faculty of Health Students, as well as research collaboration between the two organizations. The research collaboration with Revera will include the York University Centre for Aging Research and Education (YU-CARE), a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Faculties of Health, Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Glendon, and Fine Arts, whose mission is to promote innovative research, education and advocacy on graceful aging to shift attitudes about aging and contribute to improved health for older adults in Canada and around the world.
“There are multiple winners from this unique partnership with Revera,” says York’s Faculty of Health Dean Harvey Skinner. “RNs will benefit from specialized leadership training delivered by our Health Leadership & Learning Network; research into healthy aging will be advanced by our faculty experts; and students will benefit from experiential education opportunities within Revera’s facilities that will enrich their learning opportunities and career prospects in this rapidly growing sector.”
This partnership, the first in Canada between a private care provider and a university, pairs York’s wealth of research expertise and academic resources with Revera’s more than 50 year history of providing accommodation, care and services to seniors.
About York University
York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York U’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York U is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York U’s 11 faculties and 27 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 288 leading universities worldwide. York U's community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 250,000 alumni.
About Revera
Revera is a leading provider of seniors’ accommodation, care and services; built on a 50-year history of helping seniors live life to the fullest. Our 28,500 dedicated employees continually strive to serve a diverse group of clients and to offer choices to meet their individual preferences. With 227 sites across Canada and parts of the U.S., they work to enhance lives in their retirement communities, long term care homes, U.S. nursing and rehab centres and through the provision of home health services. Canadian-owned and operated, Revera serves approximately 28,000 clients every day, with the core values of respect, integrity, compassion and excellence at the heart of their business. Find out more about Revera at www.reveraliving.com, on facebook.com/Revera.Inc or on Twitter @Revera_Inc.
York’s Faculty of Health
We believe the solution to the looming crisis in healthcare is to keep more people healthier, longer throughout the life course – to emphasize prevention first then effective care when needed. Founded in 2006 and now with more than 400 faculty members and over 11,000 students, the Faculty of Health at York University stands alone in Canada in bringing together interdisciplinary strengths spanning psychology, kinesiology & health science, nursing, health policy, management & informatics, and global health. The Faculty by its very design stimulates fresh thinking and is positioned to be a dynamic force for learning, research and community impact. Through our diverse network of public and private partnerships, we are ideally positioned to lead in transforming health promotion and healthcare systems - locally and globally.
For further information please contact:
Frank Clarke, York University, 416 736 2100 ext. 21072, fclarke@yorku.ca
Rosalyn Carneiro, Revera Inc., 289-777-1410, rosalyn.carneiro@reveraliving.com
