Ananda Institute of Alternative Living Presents:
School of the Heart Training for Hospice Home Health Aides
April 10-30, 2005

Classes will be held day and night and on the weekends for certification preparation.

Location: Ananda Meditation Retreat, Nevada City, CA
Instructor: Eliza Renwick RN, founder, School of the Heart
Total Cost: Tuition, fees, room & board for 3 week program: $2,223 (shared room); $2,433 (single room)
Contact: (530) 292-3024
Email: reservations@meditationretreat.org
Accommodations: (530) 292-3024

Goals for participants in this training course include:
• Complete state and federal requirements for certification as a home health aide, inclusive of the physical and nutritional care of the patient and care of his environment.
• Learn history & philosophy of hospice movement, and the ethics, roles, and responsibilities of the home health aide as a part of an interdisciplinary care team.
• Gain an understanding of the physical, psychosocial and spiritual challenges of end-of-life care.
• Learn a variety of non-pharmacological approaches to pain and symptom management, including the basics of therapeutic massage and therapeutic touch.
• Develop comfort with the bedside nursing care of the patient who is dying, including the identification and monitoring of changes as they occur in the dying process.
• Learn meditation skills that help awaken deeper compassion and wisdom, supporting you both professionally and personally.
• Learn stress-management techniques for yourself and your patients and their families.

Home Health Aides-The Heart of Home Care and Hospice End-of-Life Care:
There is a particular bond of intimacy that occurs between patient and caregiver in the giving and receiving of personal care. It is through the development of this bond that a conscious caregiver has the opportunity to quietly and gently help the dying patient cease identification with the physical body and prepare for his transition. In the comfort generated therein, the individual gains freedom to rest from the battle with the physical senses and to place greater attention on more important tasks: meaningful life review, from which comes forgiveness and the ability to have loving closure with friends and relatives. There is, even more importantly, the development of a closer relationship with Spirit (however one chooses to define it) and with that, the development of peace and confidence in taking the next step into the "great unknown." This is, as hospice workers call it, the "work" of dying. It is realization of this humble yet deeply rewarding "calling" of the hospice home health aide to serve a higher consciousness in all that we hope to awaken in our students.


Curriculum (SOH 101):
“Compassionate Caregiving in the Home… Preparation for Certification as a Hospice Home Health Aide” (142 Hours)

Designed for students without prior training in nursing…meets all state and federal guidelines, with additional instruction in subjects pertinent to the care of the hospice patient. Graduates will be qualified to work in Medicare certified hospice and home health agencies, or as privately paid caregivers for patients who are disabled or dying. Classes are held over 3 consecutive weeks. Cost of the program is $2,223 (shared room); $2,433 (single room), and includes a non-refundable deposit of $100, tuition of $900, books, uniforms, and room & board. Class size is limited to 15. Currently being offered once a year.

Location: The three week program will be held at the Ananda Institute of Alternative Living, a beautiful retreat facility in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Students will reside at the Institute during the course of study where room and delicious vegetarian meals will be provided. While courses and clinical experience will take place during the weekdays, evening and weekend classes will be held to provide additional instruction in such subjects as the history and philosophy of the hospice movement, stress management skills (yoga & meditation), and an introduction to a variety of non-pharmacological approaches to pain and symptom management. These courses will be taught by guest lecturers and will include two four-hour massage therapy workshops, meditation workshops, and yoga for stress management.

What makes us different from other programs is our focus…recognizing that this work is, above all else, a serviceful expression of our spirituality and as such, is a sacred and joyous vocation. We hold our classes at a meditation retreat not only because of the tranquil beauty, but also to emphasize that a foundation in spiritual practices is the greatest strength one can bring to helping the patient who is dying.

Employment Opportunities: With an aging population and a managed care system that discourages institutionalization, the need for home health aides continues to grow not only in California, but throughout the nation. For those interested in pursuing employment in Nevada County the need is particularly great, as our population of elderly is one of the highest in the state. Home Health Aides are needed for positions in our hospice agency as well as in local home care agencies. There are also openings for CHHA’s willing to work as caregivers in private homes for patients and families. Hours are flexible and can range from part time to full time depending on patient needs and the CHHA’s availability.

About the School's Director:
Eliza Renwick RN has over 40 years of experience in the nursing field and has worked as a registered nurse for 33 years. She holds a BSN degree from the University of Wisconsin, and has postgraduate education in nursing, social work, and religious studies. Eliza has worked in a variety of nursing settings, most recently in home care and hospice. She is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse. Her lectures and class discussions are filled with warmth, inspiration and humor that flow naturally from her many years of experience as a caregiver.

If the School of the Heart offers the kind of education in caregiving that interests you, please feel free to call or set up a time for a personal interview.

Eliza Renwick, RN
Director, School of the Heart
Ananda Institute of Alternative Living
14618 Tyler Foote Road, # 114
Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: (530) 478-7582