In Quebec, there is a growing number of elderly individuals who are choosing to stay living in their own homes longer. Subsequently, there is an increased demand on CLSC’s  to provide services to support their decision, ranging from personal hygiene to preparing meals. The Home Care Assistance program, offered at Pearson Adult Career Centre (PACC), prepares students to provide these services to the public.  

The Home Care Assistance program is an 8 month long course (approximately)  that teaches students the tools for providing care for clients who have lost some of their autonomy but are still capable of remaining at home. Support is often given to individuals who have mobility issues, mental impairment and other health problems such as Diabetes. This program prepares students for unique and rewarding experiences providing individualized care in a home setting under the guidance of the CLSC team.

The aim of the program is to develop competent care-providers and independent  thinkers, able to deal with any situation they may encounter. During the course of the program, the students acquire and build on skills learned in each competency. With an ultimate goal of safety, students learn how to assist with basic functional needs of an individual. Beyond the professional pride of caring for others, there comes a personal satisfaction of contributing to an individual's overall needs, comfort and their desire to remain at home.