LOYALIST COLLEGE
Loyalist College and H.J. McFarland Memorial Home partner on Living Classroom to support hands-on health care training

This month (April), students from Loyalist College's Personal Support Worker (PSW) program are participating in a unique hands-on learning experience developed in partnership with H.J. McFarland Memorial Home. From March 5 - April 16, the students are training in a Living Classroom at the Prince Edward County long-term care facility, building the confidence and experience they need to join Ontario's health care workforce. The initiative is an ongoing partnership between the college and H.J. McFarland Memorial Home, with plans for additional cohorts of PSW students to benefit from the community-based learning model in the future.

"The Living Classroom model brings education directly into the workplace," explains Loyalist College Senior Vice President, Academic and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Amanda Baskwill. "Students are connecting their theoretical knowledge to the lived realities of long-term care residents, their families and the health care teams that support them. Working alongside professionals in their field, our students are gaining a greater understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities of PSWs and witnessing compassionate care in action."

Each Wednesday morning throughout the pilot initiative, students will travel from Loyalist's Belleville campus to Picton using the HealthPULSE shuttle, a service launched by the college last year in partnership with the County of Prince Edward to help remove transportation barriers for students completing placements in the region.

Arriving at H.J. McFarland Memorial Home, Loyalist students step into an immersive training environment where they assist experienced professionals in supporting residents. The Living Classroom is outfitted with equipment provided by Loyalist College and a newly purchased hospital bed provided by H.J. McFarland Memorial Home.

"We are excited to have this opportunity with Loyalist College," says Rachel Jeffery, Resident Social Services Coordinator at H.J. McFarland Memorial Home. "The PSW students in the Living Classroom learn from interacting with residents and staff rather than solely through textbooks. This helps develop empathy, communication skills and hands-on techniques that are crucial in a long-term care setting. The focus is not just on medical care, but also on improving the overall quality of life for residents. Through the Living Classroom, PSW students can better understand the emotional and social needs of residents, helping to foster a more holistic approach to care."

Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick emphasizes that strong partnerships between educators and community partners are key to meeting Ontario's labour force needs. 

"When educators and community service providers work together, providing mutual support, knowledge and resources, we strengthen the entire regional health care system," he observes. "Our students are receiving an unparalleled hands-on learning experience while our community partners help to prepare future PSWs to join their teams and make an immediate impact when they graduate. We're proud to collaborate with H.J. McFarland Memorial Home to support the high standard of care our region depends on, and we look forward to expanding these opportunities with other partners in the future."

The Living Classroom is funded by the Government of Ontario and led by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) through the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care  (Ontario CLRI), in partnership with the Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA).