Continuing Care Assistant 2025-2026
Overview
The Continuing Care Assistant program allows you to make a difference in someone's life everyday. This program is a one-year certificate program.
If you enjoy caring for others the Continuing Care Assistant program might be right for you. You'll work directly with clients in long-term care, home care, assisted living, and even special needs classrooms. You will help them with mobility, personal care, assisting them to eat their meals and medication monitoring. Your clinical work experiences will give you a taste of different work settings and offer you a strong foundation as a health care support staff.
You will build knowledge and skills related to:
- application of long-term care philosophy in different settings
- addressing individual psychosocial needs
- dementia management strategies
- gerontology (a major area of study)
- administering personal care
- promoting independence in a safe environment
- working with individuals with different physical and cognitive impairments
- working with people of different cultures
Students must be able to travel to 2 clinical placements each academic year. Each placement is approximately 20 days. Placements are typically located in Meadow Lake.
September 2, 2025 to June 13, 2026
Program session #514519
Meadow Lake Campus
Sep 2nd, 2025 - Jun 13th, 2026 Full-time
Tuition: $5200.00 (subject to change)
Books: $500.00 (subject to change)
Print Fee: $50.00
Admission Requirements
Grade 12
- English Language requirement
Applicants require:
- Personal and physical suitability. This job is physically demanding and you will be on your feet continuously throughout your shifts (aside from your coffee and meal breaks). It can also be mentally and emotionally stressful and students must have a strong support system and coping strategies in place to do well.
- Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search. The cost of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search is your responsibility.
- N95 respirator mask testing (2 mask minimum) prior to entry into the clinical practicum. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility. Contact ZEL Safety Services Inc for Porta Count testing.
- 2015 WHMIS Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification upon admission into the program. Recertification will be required every three years to remain current. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility.
- A complete record of your immunizations and lab results. IF you were born outside of Canada OR you are unable to obtain your childhood immunization records (ie: records destroyed, born in another province etc.) please ask for the following blood tests:
- Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (NOT Hep B Antigen)
- Varicella Zoster IgG (NOT IgM)
- Measles IgG
- Mumps IgG
- Rubella IgG
- Based on the results of the Bloodwork, the vaccinations required will be determined by Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Your blood work is used as a baseline to determine what vaccinations you will require.
Special Admissions:
Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through a special admission assessment. Interested individuals should still apply. Applicants are automatically considered for special admission.
Courses
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ANAT 100 - Body Systems
You will receive a basic introduction to body systems. You will study the structure of organs and systems in the human body, and how they function efficiently.
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CLIN 100 - Clinical 1 - Special Care
In a long term care setting, you will participate in a supervised clinical experience following the hours of work of that site. You will assist clients who require personal care/comfort.
Prerequisite(s): SPCR 104, SPCR 105, ANAT 100, SPCR 192, COMM 291
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COMM 291 - Interpersonal Communications
You will develop employability skills through the study of interpersonal communications theory and applications in the workplace. Learning outcomes include the importance of self-awareness and self-esteem, perception problems, verbal and nonverbal messages, listening skills, creating positive communication climates and resolving interpersonal conflict.
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DEMC 100 - Dementia Care
You will study the types, behaviors and assessment techniques for dementia. You will learn how to promote optimal levels of functioning throughout the disease progression and manage critical incidents. Issues related to institutional care placement and the impact dementia has on the family will be examined.
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SPCR 101 - Observing, Reporting, and Recording
You will learn written and oral communication skills required in the work place. The course content includes basic concepts of simple arithmetic, basic medical terminology, concept mapping, observing and reporting on client’s status, client and personal work plans.
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SPCR 104 - Personal Care 1
You will have the opportunity to become skilled at assisting clients in meeting personal care needs. You will study infection control, body mechanics, bed making, positioning clients, range of motion, oral care, and assisting to feed clients.
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SPCR 105 - Personal Care 2
Building on the skills you learned in Personal Care 1, you will become skilled at assisting clients in meeting personal care needs. You will study grooming and dressing, foot and nail care, and elimination care.
Prerequisite(s): SPCR 104
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SPCR 192 - Personal Competence
Your studies will focus on the goals and philosophy of Health Care Services in Saskatchewan. You will learn how these goals are reflected in the activities of the agency and on your role as a caregiver. You will learn about your role in providing care services within a multicultural dynamic setting. The course content also includes interprofessional work environments, personal health, employability skills, and types of abuse (for example: caregiver, neglect and abandonment, sexual and financial).
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CLIN 219 - Clinical 2 - Special Care
In a long term care setting, you will participate in a supervised clinical experience following the hours of work of that clinical site. You will provide care for clients who require assistance with activities of daily living.
Prerequisite(s): CLIN 100, COMM 197, COMM 291, DEMC 100, HUMD 187, SOCI 171, SPCR 101, SPCR 102, SPCR 106, SPCR 107, SPCR 108, SPCR 284, SPCR 285
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COMM 197 - Helping Skills
YYou will apply communication skills to facilitate a helping relationship with your clients, their families, significant others, other health care staff, as well as various other professionals.
Prerequisite(s): COMM 291
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HUMD 187 - Human Growth and Development
You will learn the physical, social, intellectual and emotional aspects of human growth and development from infancy to old age. You will also study the effects of aging on society.
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SPCR 102 - End of Life Care
Your studies will cover death and dying in the Canadian context. You will study the basic needs and interventions of the dying client. You will also cover grief, the grieving process and the impact of life threatening illnesses on the family members.
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SPCR 108 - Special Procedures
You will be introduced to the Continuing Care Assistant’s role in assisting with special procedures. You will learn about delegation and perform basic measurements and simple treatments. Client assessment will also be discussed. You will acquire the theory and skills required to assist clients who have post-acute surgical or medical conditions.
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SPCR 284 - Special Needs 1
Your studies will cover the basic needs and interventions of clients with disruptions in their sensory organs, body systems (i.e. cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological and endocrine) and body functions (i.e. genitourinary and gastro-intestinal).
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SPCR 285 - Special Needs 2
Your studies will cover the basic needs and interventions of clients with infectious diseases, cancer, altered mental abilities, disruption in mental health, and alcohol and drug dependency. You will learn the specific care required for bariatric clients.
Prerequisite(s): SPCR 284
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SPCR 106 - Introduction to Caregiving
You will examine the role of the Continuing Care Assistant as part of the interprofessional team and discuss the attributes that are required to be a successful team member. Client and family-centered care will be discussed with the use of effective communication to build rapport and trust. Safe practices will be explored to ensure safety for the client and caregiver.
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SOCI 160 - Foundations of Sociology
Using your sociological imagination, you will examine how to practice sociology, and learn about the importance of culture, socialization, and the family. You will discuss social inequality in Canada, as well as explore the concepts of social control and deviance. Your studies will also include issues related to the power of mass media, the dualism of sex and gender, and race and ethnicity. You will have an opportunity to examine collective behavior, social movements, social change, and globalization.
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SPCR 107 - Community Care
You will learn how to promote client independence in a safe home environment. Examination of community resources will help you learn how to promote socialization for seniors. Nutritional challenges and activity for seniors will be discussed as well as the employment standards for working alone in home care. This course includes a 1 day observed community exercise.