Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Elderly Care Management

Course Description

As the population continues to age, the provision of elderly care is becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the healthcare economy.

The Master of Science in Elderly Care Management draws upon disciplines related to management, policy, law, as well as social and behavioural sciences.

This course provides the opportunity for participants aiming for or already engaged in the administration or management of elderly care services to further develop the technical, leadership and management skills required to ensure good quality care services.

As a current or prospective care services manager, you will be provided with the opportunity to develop your theoretical and practical understanding in line with the latest evidence-based practices in the international field. You will explore the ethical considerations that come into play when making decisions that will impact the wellbeing of service users, as well as good governance and quality management in the delivery of effective care services.

This programme focuses on the Maltese legislation related to the sector. However, it also provides an opportunity to investigate different models of healthcare.

The overall course objectives are:

Knowledge:

• Critically analyse the place and role of the elderly in society and role of elderly care services;
• Critically analyse the existing legal and economic regulations on elders and the role of government in the provision of care and protection of the elders;
• Critically analyse theories and methodologies related to management, finance, leadership and HR of elderly care organisation;
• Critically assess the existing resources at the community and hospital/elderly care facility setting to provide the relevant care to the elderly;
• Critically analyse the research concerning welfare and Economic Issues of elderly care;
• Critically examine the development of the body of knowledge that relates to palliative and end of life care, quality and elderly service improvement and psychiatric and psychological issues of elders;
• Compare different healthcare models.

Skills: 

• Apply theories and methodologies related to management, leadership and HR in elderly care;
• Critically appraise the needs of elders and implement findings for improvement of service of elderly care;
• Critically appraise and apply relevant processes and procedures related to elderly care in context of public policy and welfare and economic regulations;
• Apply techniques relevant to management of mental and physical aspects of aging, and tools to deal with psychological aspects of aging;
• Apply techniques relevant to financial management of institutions for elders, quality and service improvement, psychiatric issues and palliative and end of life care.

Competences:

• Appraise the importance of personal experience and values and attitudes in working with the elderly;
• Critically assess the issues in relation to ageing in various settings: health care, social, organisational and the family;
• Critically analyse the importance of application of research methodology in gerontology;
• Critically evaluate the relevance of eeconomic, social, cultural and legal issues in the ageing process;
• Critically examine the development of the application of body of knowledge that relates to psychiatrics of aging, management of institutions for elders, quality and service improvement, and palliative and end of life care.

Entry Requirements

Candidates who apply for this course must possess one of the following:

• a Level 6 degree in a related field;

OR

• a Level 5 diploma or higher diploma and 5 years’ work experience in a supervisory or managerial role.

Preference is given to applicants having a Level 6 degree in a discipline related elderly care and a minimum of 3 years’ work experience in management within the sector.

Students whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate English language capability at IELTS level 6.0 or equivalent.

Foreign qualifications need to be presented together with MQRIC recognition statement when applying for the programme.

Target Audience

The programme aims to improve the prospect of employment and career progression in areas including but not limited to:

• Community/social services agencies for the elderly;
• Religious organisations which target care for the elderly;
• Health care and long-term care agencies and institutions (state and private)

The target group covers, but is not limited to:

• Care Home Managers and Directors;
• Personnel involved in the administration of care to the elderly;
• Educators;
• Welfare Officers;
• Human resources and operations managers involved in the administration of care for the elderly; middle management (such as. senior care workers etc.);
• Personnel involved in family counselling and counselling of the elderly;
• nurses;
• Medical Doctors;
• Allied health professionals, such as Physiotherapists, Dieticians etc.

Career Paths

The potential positions for which this programme aims to prepare could be: Elderly Care Home Managers/Directors, Elderly Home Chief Executive Officers/ Chief Financial Officers/Human Resources Managers.

It is designed to improve the prospect of employment and career progression in areas including, but not limited, to:

• Community/social services agencies for the elderly;
• Religious organisations which provide care for the elderly;
• Healthcare and long-term care agencies and institutions (state and private).

Modules

You are required to complete all 10 compulsory modules (60 ECTS), as well as the Dissertation (30 ECTS) to fulfil the requirements of this Master’s Degree.

How you’ll be assessed

The course comprises:

• Evening classes for part-time courses.
• Classes held throughout the day for full-time courses.
• Guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos.
• Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out via two mandatory components:

• Modular Assessment
• Dissertation Assessment

The programme includes different forms of assessment which allow for and promote students’ critical engagement. The formative and summative assessment tasks may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules. 

Dissertation Assessment

Assessment of dissertations is primarily based on:

• Depth of critical understanding of the theoretical framework;
• Application of appropriate research tools;
• Critical approach to analysis, interpretation and evaluation of research findings;
• Depth and level of argumentation build-up;
• Original contribution to the generation of new knowledge/hypothesis/models;
• Scholarly presentation meeting academic standards