Code of Ethics and Standards
1) IGSOAP members provide services with respect and dignity to all geriatric and dementia clients. Recognizes the population they serve with individuality.
2) IGSOAP members participate in ongoing education and stay current with active aging and dementia issues. Members keep up their required educational and professional competencies in the activity/dementia professions. Members will maintain networking with other health care professionals, attend dementia and Alzheimer's seminars, conventions, support groups, and ethic committees.
3) IGSOAP members will report any acts that are illegal or unethical to protective authorities or agencies to safeguard the populations they serve and assume absolute responsibility for their actions.
4) IGSOAP members work to implement innovative ideas that provide positive and safe care settings that help dementia/geriatric individuals to continue active aging and help to maintain skills levels to function with assistance or as independently as possible, to establish concepts of self-worth/value and quality of life.
5) IGSOAP members will respect individual customs, religious beliefs and philosophies truthfully and avoid misleading and false information.
6) IGSOAP members will not use the International Geriatric Society of Activity Professionals on any brochures, advertising materials without the express permission of this organization and in no way benefit directly or indirectly at the expense of the International Geriatric Society of Activity Professionals.
7) IGSOAP members understand that its certifications and rank levels with IGSOAP do not in any way confer upon the member any type of licensure as a health care provider.
ABOUT IGSOAP Our Purpose/ intent
International Geriatric Society of Activity Professionals was formed to promote standards of excellence in dementia and geriatric issues in the Activity Professional Field. Providing information in methods of Active Aging and Cognitive Changes that affect the individual's life as healthcare changes impact their abilities family relationships and community involvement. As these factors continue to increase globally, IGSOAP hopes to provide a resource for continuous and current educational information for caregivers, front-line staff, healthcare professionals, and family members. A well-trained Activity Professional can provide appropriate, competent, and sensitive direct care and support systems to enhance the understanding of the aging process through the benefits of Active Aging, Positive Outcomes, Quality of Life, and Person-centered Care methods.
IGSOAP was formed to promote standards of excellence in the Activity Professional Field and provide a scope of practice that benefits this dementia/geriatric individual in positive and protective ways to insure that compassionate and educated care is provided to this most vulnerable population.
Membership and Rank Acknowledgement
Our primary purpose and benefit to anyone seeking membership and rank acknowledgment in IGSOAP are to provide a space where resources for education and information are provided. We will assemble and update resources for educational opportunities, workshops, and seminars for Continuing Education Units to provide high standards for the professional growth and acknowledge of Geriatric Activity Professionals.
Providing Measurable Standards by:
1) A reference page for these educational resources will be listed and updated to help you grow and increase your professional status and rank.
2) A standard of measuring excellence in educational and work requirements to define this level of professionalism
3) A standard of continuing education documented by a renewal requirement to maintain a level of professionalism.
Offering Level of Professionalism in:
Geriatric Activity Professional-IGAP/C
RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS: Once your rank of ICAP-C is obtained, members at this rank should renew their credentialing every 2 years to remain in good standing.
Renewal applications must include 8 hours of continuing education over the 2 year period and proof of attendance information noted on their CEU letter or certification of completion certificate.
Processing time of four weeks and minimal fee payment will apply to complete renewal confirmation.
Professional Pathways/ reQuirements
This section will provide career pathways of the levels as defined by IGSOAP standards, educational training areas, and work experience hours. A complete listing of Continuing Education Topic Areas will be provided at the end of this section for the career pathways development.
An International Geriatric Activity Professional must meet and complete the following standards:
This individual has achieved basic awareness of the Activity Professional Field, has working knowledge and experience to serve the geriatric individual.
Requirements
* High School or equivalent
* Work Experience - 1000 hours of work directly in Activity using person-centered care methods (within 3 years of application and maybe a volunteer or employed position)
* Education - A total of 40 hours of training in Approved Topics listed: Dementia and Alzheimers, Documentation -care planning and contact notes, Cultural Awareness, Human Development and Aging, Communication and Behavior Management, Medical Terminology, Sensory Stimulation, Dementia conditions, and stages and Program planning for severe to mild cognitional levels. Complete all topic areas and submit valid Continuing Education Units with instructor identification, location, and date of class, workshop, or training session attended.
Provide a letter or proof of volunteer and/or employment within 3 years of applying.
OR
Complete the International Geriatric Activity Professional Certification Class and pass a class examination with a 79% score or higher to receive Certification of Completion Certificate and provide documentation of work experience before acceptance into the class.
Applications for Career Pathways are posted under Career Pathways. Complete the application IGSOAP class acceptance and submit it for review.
Review submission takes 4-6 weeks or slightly longer as all work/education requirements will be researched before the level of professionalism will be awarded. The review process involves documentation and reference confirmation before professional levels are issued. If information is falsified or does not meet the standards of IGSOAP you will be asked to revise your application or complete additional topic areas to assure your level of professionalism.
Continuing Education Topic Areas
The purpose of continuing education is for professional growth and to maintain standards to help the Activity Professional to stay current on new trends and regulations in the field.
Any activity related lecture/talk/ workshop/conference/session should fall iinto one of these topic areas will be approved.
All classes or certificates of attendance must have the date/location/ number of hours attended for CEU units/ location and instructor name and title/the sponsoring insitution/school/ association profession listed on the Certificate of Attendance or Letter of Documentation to be valid for approval by IGSOAP
Topics areas are:
1. Activitiies/Programming - all activities that provide for self-expression of the arts and all physical movement activities that help to maintain a skill or ability
2. Behavios
3. Budget/Financial Management
4. Confidentiality/HIPPA
5. Cognitive impairment/Dementia
6. Consulting related to Activities
7. Community Resources/ Programs/Outings
8. Computer/Adio/Visual Technology
9. Resident Councils or Family Councils
10. CPR and First Aid Classes
11. Cultural Change/Environment and Programming
12. Diagnosis and Chronic Disorders
13. Documentation/MDs/Care Planning
14. End of Life Issues/Hospice
15. Environment related to activities/ safety/infection control/active shooter/cleaning of supplies/equipment storage and organization
16. Ethics
17. Fund Raising
18. Goal Setting
19. Grant Writing
20. Hiring, Training and Staff Retention
21. Interpersonal Relations
22. Leisure Time
23. Management and Supervision
24. Motivation
25. Pain Management/Palliative Care
26. Person Centered Programs
27. Policies and Procedures
28. Professional Growth/Development
29. Professionalism
30. Psychology of Aging
31. Public Relations
32. Qualify Assurance
33. Record Keeping/Medical Report Writing
34. Regulations/Survey Process
35. Research and Development
36. Resident Assessment
37. Resident Rights/Social Workers Role
38. Resources for Activity Professionals
39. Sensory Stimulation
40. Short Term Stay: Rehab
41. Special Populations/Needs/Traumatic
Head Injuries/ Cognitive Levels
42. Spirituality/Religion
43. Standards of Practice
44. Teamwork
45. Therapies (Physical, Occupational, Speach, Aroma, Massage, etc
46. Time Management
47. Validation Theroy
48. Volunteers: Recruitment /Retention
49. Wellness
50. Active Aging Concepts and Human Development/ How the Body Ages
Resource Page - Professional Associations/ insitutions/classes/seminars/ workshops/seminars/lectures/Health Care and Community Groups
Application for IGSOAP Professional Levels
Please contact Connie Ratti to submit your previous experiences, work, and educational information for review.
If you have additional concerns or questions please contact us. Your professional growth and success is important to us.
As Always, Connie Ratti
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