Geriatric Continuing Education Modules
These free, one-hour modules provide training on geriatric topics in order to advance teamwork among health professionals caring for older adults. Modules incorporate the expertise of local, regional and national leaders in geriatrics, neurology, pharmacy, physical therapy, nursing, social work and other disciplines.
Addressing Depression in the Context of Age-Friendly Care
Major depressive disorder comes under the “M” of Mentation in the Age-Friendly Health System model. Men aged 65 and older constitute the highest rate per 100,000 population. Primary care practices must be equipped to provide this care as there are not enough geriatricians to meet this need. This activity will discuss suicidal epidemiology, assessment, and treatment for Major Depressive Disorder.
Advance Care Planning
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the face-to-face time a physician or other qualified health care professional spends with a patient, family member, or surrogate to explain and discuss advance directives. Every person should have the opportunity to express their wishes for end-of-life care. Documenting preferences will aid the medical team in respecting the individual’s wishes as he or she approaches the end of life.
Advocating for Independence: Assessing for Capacity and Elder Mistreatment
For some individuals, cognitive impairment can be so severe that decision-making is so permanently and irreversibly altered that they need significant support even when they remain physically well. In contrast, other individuals remain cognitively intact but develop physical limitations that make it challenging for them to enact their decisions. As a result, they sometimes must rely on others to physically care for them.
Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems
Dive into the IHI Age-Friendly 4M Framework and learn how to address a persistent unmet need for medical practices that focuses care on the health goals and preferences of older adults.
High-Risk Medications
Update in progress. Available May 2024,
Older adult populations are at a higher risk of experiencing an adverse drug event and becoming hospitalized as a result. This module will address the characteristics of medications that are high-risk, and how to mitigate those risks for older adult patients.
Promoting Medicare Annual Wellness Visits
Promoting proactive approaches to preventive health can make a difference. This module aims to educate providers and clinical staff regarding the components, documentation, and benefits in providing Medicare Annual Wellness Visits to all eligible patients.
Providing Home-based Primary Care
An estimated 1.9 million U.S. adults age 65 or older are completely or mostly homebound. Home-based primary care (HBPC) provided by multidisciplinary teams to vulnerable, homebound older adults has been shown to reduce costs, with high rates of patient satisfaction and reduced symptom burden.
Sexuality, Intimacy and Dementia
There are many misconceptions surrounding the need for intimacy and expressions of sexuality within an aging population in general. A diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease does not eliminate the human need for intimacy and sexual expression. This module will address common misconceptions, approaches to appropriately meet the needs of patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and explain techniques to family and caregivers.
SPIKES: A Six-Step Protocol for Delivering Bad News
Healthcare providers will potentially deliver bad news to patients many times throughout their careers. Disclosing bad news is inherently negative and can contribute to stress and anxiety. When practitioners are uncomfortable giving bad news, they may avoid discussing distressing information or convey unwarranted optimism. Having a strategy to increase confidence during this patient interaction, has been demonstrated to reduce anxiety and burnout.
Supporting Persons Living with Dementia and their Caregivers
Primary care medical offices play a vital role in identifying dementia early and offering ongoing support of not only the person living with dementia but their caregivers, yet primary care clinicians have limited time to address the complex care required of their patients with dementia. Enrolling patients with dementia in chronic care management can provide the opportunity for reimbursement for time spent outside of the regular office visit. Utilizing community resources, such as services through the Alzheimer’s Association, can also help provide patients and caregivers with needed support and education.
Telemedicine: Addressing Barriers for Special Populations
Telehealth covers a wide variety of technology-enabled exchange of health and care management information. Telemedicine is one aspect of telehealth that refers to the delivery of health care between patient and health care provider typically through video conferencing. Telemedicine can increase access to care, increase follow-up care, and reduce health care costs.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U1QHP287350100. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resources and Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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