Teacher qualifications

Each member of our teaching staff is an employee of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and adheres to the highest teaching standards. Instructors are carefully selected based on their experience, commitment to teaching, and dedication to improving the lives of older adults.

Primary and secondary instructors for this program are required to show proof of licensure as a nurse, must have experience working in home health or long-term care and must have experience working with paraprofessionals and/or family members. Instructors are also required to have experience supervising nursing assistants and/or teaching nurse aides.

Teaching philosophy

Instructors of the Schmieding Program believe that quality in-home caregivers are the result of well-trained instructors utilizing structured learner-centered curriculum providing both didactic and clinical experiences in a realistic home-like environment. We believe a quality in-home caregiver begins with a caring person with a “caregiver’s heart” who desires to work to improve the quality of life for the older adult living at home. We believe that students learn best when teachers utilize multiple interactive instructional techniques.  We select teaching strategies that integrate integrity, dignity, and respect. Our training program emphasizes holistic care using the 3 H’s (Heart, Head, and Hands) approach to caregiver education. We acknowledge that well trained in-home caregivers must not only possess a combination of skills, but also have the knowledge of safe practice standards and be sensitive to the individualized needs of older adults and their family. We consider our students as future advocates for older adults.