Textbooks listed could be used for specific HCA program courses or serve as overall program texts. Preference has been given to Canadian editions and those with online ancillary resources. In addition, several of the textbooks listed are available online through BCcampus as open educational resources.

Full Curriculum Textbooks

Wilk, M. J. (2021). Sorrentino’s Canadian textbook for the support worker (5th Canadian ed.). Elsevier.

Wolgin, F., Smith, K., French, J., Butt, A., Patterson, D. (2017). The Canadian personal care provider. Pearson Canada, Inc.

Books on Communication

Adams, C., & Jones, P. H. (2010). Therapeutic communication for health professionals (3rd ed.) McGraw-Hill.

Adler R. B., Proctor, R. F., (2024). Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication (16th ed. Enhanced E-book.). Oxford University Press. https://www.worldcat.org/title/1387568126

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2019). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (9th Canadian ed.). Pearson Canada.

Camosun College. (2021). Trades access common core competency B-3: Use interpersonal communication skills. (2nd ed.). BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/tradescommoncoreb3/

Devereaux Ferguson, S., & Lennox Terrion, J. (2014). Communication in everyday life: Personal and professional contexts. Oxford University Press.

Elsevier Inc. (2020). Job readiness for health professionals: Soft skills strategies for success (3rd ed.). Elsevier.

Books on Dementia and Mental Health

Carr, E. & Mizock, L. (2020). Women with serious mental illness: Gender sensitive and recovery- oriented care. Oxford University Press.

Christie, J., (2020). Promoting resilience in dementia care: A person-centred framework for assessment and support planning. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Jones, M. (2007). Gentlecare: Changing the experience of Alzheimer’s disease in a positive way (2nd ed.). Moyra Jones Resources Ltd.

Melrose, S., Dusome, D., Simpson, J., Crocker, C., & Athens, E. (2015). Supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illness: What caregivers need to know. BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/caregivers/

Nightengale, D. J. (2020). The pocket guide to mouth and dental hygiene in dementia care: Guidance for maintaining good oral health. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Richards, C. (Ed.) (2020). Living well with dementia through music: A resource book for activities providers and care staff. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Thelker, C. (2020). For this I am grateful: Living with dementia. Austin Macauley.

Books on Palliative Care, Aging and Caregiving

Blackmore, T, & Parker, G. (2020). Community palliative care and COVID-19: A handbook for clinicians who care for palliative patients with COVID-19 in community settings. Class Professional Publishing.

Lowey, S. E. (2015). Nursing care at the end of life. Open SUNY Textbooks. https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/nursingcare/

Murray, K. (2014). Integrating a palliative approach: Essentials for personal support workers (2nd ed.). Life and Death Matters.

Nouwen, H. (2011). A spirituality of caregiving. Upper Room Books.

Schachter-Shalomi, Z. & Miller, R. (2014). From age-ing to sage-ing: A profound new vision of growing older. Warner Books.

Additional Texts

Betts, J. G., Young, K. A., Wise, J. A., Johnson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D. H., Korol, O., Johnson, J. E. Womble, M., & DeSaix, P. (2022). Anatomy and physiology. (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e

Christianson, T. & Morris, K. (2023). Personal care skills for health care assistants. BCcampus https://opentextbc.ca/hcalabtheoryandpractice/

Doyle, R. G., & McCutcheon, J. A. (2015). Clinical procedures for safer patient care. BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/clinicalskills/

Donatelle, R. (2023). Health: The basics (14th Canadian ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.

Melrose, S., Park, C., & Perry, B. (2015). Creative clinical teaching in the health professions. Athabasca University Press. https://doi.org/10.15215/aupress/9781771993319.01