This course is split up into six compulsory units. 

• Unit 1: Principles of elderly care in the UK 
  In this unit, you will learn what caring for elderly is, about ageing populations and the range of care available. This unit also covers the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

• Unit 2: Maintaining health and well-being in elderly care
  In this unit, you will discover the role that individuality and independence has in elderly care, how importance contact is between family/ friends and service users, and how maintaining health and well-being is key for care workers.
• Unit 3: Common health issues affecting individuals in elderly care
  This unit will cover the signs, symptoms and how to support service users with dementia, urinary tract health issues, pneumonia, wounds and healing, depression and arthritis. The section will also cover end of life care.
• Unit 4: Individual rights in elderly care 
  In this unit, you will learn about safeguarding and protecting vulnerable adults, recognising abuse and responding to abuse, equality and diversity, and the legislation in place.
• Unit 5: Minimising risk in elderly care 
  In this unit, you will learn about the risk assessments, manual handling, hazardous substances, risk of infections, dealing with incidents and safe administration of medicines.
• Unit 6: Communication in elderly care 
  In this final unit, you will learn about communication within elderly care settings, moving into a care home and the skills that are required for care workers.

In order to complete this distance learning course at no charge you will need to match the following entry criteria:

• Are a resident of the EEU (European Economic Area) and have been for at least 3 years
• Will be undertaking your learning within England
• Are aged 19 or above
• If you are 19-23 years old you must have already achieved a level 2 qualification or equivalent
• If you are 24+ there are no formal entry requirements for this course but you will find it helpful to have a good standard of English and maths

Studying via distance learning means you can choose when and where you study.  
We recommended allowing a minimum of 3 to 4 hours per week to study this course in your own time.

You will be given submission dates for each unit to help you stay on track and complete within the allocated timeframe.  This course is available via: 

• Online assessments with paper based learning materials
• Fully paper based

To find out more information please email distance.learning@bcot.ac.uk quoting the course reference.