Course

Personal Assistance

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Disability & Community Studies
Course code
DACS 2370
Credits
3.00
Semester length
2 to 15 weeks
Max class size
15
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This experiential course emphasizes personal assistance skills and health related procedures. Basic safety principles, human body systems provide a frame to develop foundational knowledge to support the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities from a person-centered and culturally relevant perspective.
Course content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

  1. Safety issues are important threads that are woven throughout all theory and practice of personal assistance skills.
  2. Basic cleanliness principles are applied whenever the practitioner is performing personal assistance tasks.
  3. Proper body mechanics for the practitioner and the person who is being supported help ensure safety and comfort while performing personal assistance tasks.
  4. Health is not a state, but rather a process and continuum.  It is a resource for, not the goal of, living.
  5. Use of an organized, goal directed decision-making process enables the practitioner to apply learning to individual situations.
  6. The knowledge of the basic structure and function of human body systems and how health related conditions affect these body systems enhance the practitioner's ability to assist in meeting an individual's basic human needs.
  7. Awareness of self, values, beliefs, and limitations are integral to optimal skill development.
  8. Practitioners are responsible for conducting themselves in a legal, ethical and caring manner.
  9. Practitioners' levels of skill are enhanced by applying theoretical concepts to actual lab practice in a controlled, supervised and safe setting, with their peers.

 

Learning activities

Lab:

  • Mini lectures
  • Demonstration and practice
  • Small group learning activities

Lecture:

  • Discussion forums
  • Group work
  • Student presentations
  • Guest Speakers
Means of assessment

This course will conform to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations. Typical means of evaluation will include quizzes, group presentation, participation, and skill testing. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation as part of the student’s graded performance. Expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the instructor course outline/syllabus. This is a Graded Course.

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate and support the self-determination of individuals receiving assistance through culturally responsive communication and personal assistance skills.

  • Respect individual privacy and autonomy
  • Seek informed consent for personal assistance activities
  • Analyze ethical limits of personal assistance practice
  • Seek feedback regarding personal assistance skill competence
  • Use culturally responsive practices to promote autonomy and wellness
  • Advocate for individuals that receive support

2. Analyze appropriate measures for preventing potential health problems for individuals receiving personal assistance.

  • Apply knowledge, critical thinking and analytic reasoning in health care planning
  • Assess each individual and situation using critical thinking and a decision making process
  • Use knowledge of wellness and body systems to provide timely and appropriate assistance
  • Explore disability and aging and the implications for providing personal assistance
  • Communicate with team members regarding changes in a person's health and wellbeing status

3. Demonstrate proper safety awareness while providing personal assistance.

  • Wash hands and use principles of cleanliness when providing personal assistance
  • Use proper body mechanics while moving self and others
  • Explain legal limits of personal assistance practice
  • Report and record safety and health concerns
  • Explain the use and maintenance of personal assistance aids and equipment

4. Provide individualized personal assistance to others.

  • Consider how the major principles of personal assistance are incorporated into each skill
  • Review and practice steps in personal assistance procedures
  • Adapt procedures to suit the individual and situation, using a decision making process and the Basic Principles of Care
  • Examine best practices for individuals who have diabetes, seizures, or other health issues
  • Demonstrate competence in 5-10 personal assistance skills, such as: positioning and transferring, medication administration, vital signs, assistance with elimination, and bathing.
Textbook materials

A list of required and recommended readings will be provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Instructors are committed to prioritizing OER and publicly available resources.

Requisites

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for DACS 2370
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO CSEA 120 (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR EAP 110 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU EDAS 1281 (2)
Langara College (LANG) LANG EDAS 1130 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC HSW 108 (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU PSYC 2XX (1.5)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV HSER 196 (1.5)
University of Victoria (UVIC) No credit

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
15
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
15
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. C
Room
C2014
Times:
Start Time
9:00
-
End Time
11:50
Building
Online
Room
ONLINE
Times:
-
Section notes

DACS 2370 070 - This hybrid course is restricted to DACS students. Open to other students with departmental approval. Online component begins Sept 3. In-person lab dates are Sept 20, Oct 4, 18, Nov 1 in the morning.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
15
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
15
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. C
Room
C2014
Times:
Start Time
13:00
-
End Time
15:50
Building
Online
Room
ONLINE
Times:
-
Section notes

DACS 2370 071 - This hybrid course is restricted to DACS students. Open to other students with departmental approval. Online component begins Sept 3. In-person lab dates are Sept 20, Oct 4, 18, Nov 1 in the afternoon.