Geriatric Continuing Education Modules
Free online 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.
Learning modules for health care professionals
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.
Age-Friendly Care for Older Incarcerated Individuals
This training module is designed to equip healthcare professionals, correctional staff, and other key stakeholders with the knowledge and practical tools necessary to address the unique and often overlooked needs of incarcerated older adult patients. It underscores the need for compassionate, evidence-based care that respects the dignity and supports the health of incarcerated older adults.
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.
Comprehensive Management of Osteoporosis in Primary Care
Osteoporosis, a common condition of the skeletal system, benefits from a comprehensive approach to providing effective and age-friendly care. Primary care providers have a significant role in screening multiple health systems, including the skeletal system. An age-friendly interprofessional collaborative approach provides an effective means of addressing bone health.
High-Risk Medications in the Elderly
Adverse drug events can occur when medications are used incorrectly or a drug interaction occurs. According to the CDC, Adverse drug events cause approximately 1.3 million emergency department visits each year. About 350,000 patients each year need to be hospitalized for further treatment after emergency visits for adverse drug events. 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.
Leading Change in Age-Friendly Health Systems
Explore the importance of age-friendly care, gain practical strategies to enhance patient outcomes, and learn how to implement meaningful change, even amid workforce challenges.
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.
Providing Nursing Care for Those Living with Dementia
Dementia is prevalent in hospitals and nursing homes. This set of five 15-minute modules is intended for nurses and nursing assistants who work in facilities that provide care for persons living with dementia. Others wanting strategies and techniques to help better support persons living with dementia may also find this training helpful.
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.
How to use POLST in Texas
Texas Talks developed this training to grow the use of POLST (Portable Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) and education about its benefits in Texas. The online enduring activity will address overcoming barriers regarding the legal status of orders, practical usage as a best practice, and comfort in using and having conversations about POLST. The activity will provide a safe opportunity to practice the knowledge and skills.
Learning modules for nursing home care
Creating Meaningful Activities for Residents
Older adults who have dementia benefit from feeling engaged and productive. Facilities offer activities and entertainment to encourage social interaction, reduce anxiety, stimulate the brain, and inspire feelings of accomplishment among their residents.
Engage at Every Stage: Promotion and Support of Activity and Safe Mobility
This module will help increase your knowledge of the common characteristics of the stages of cognitive decline. We can learn when to use which strategies to help support and care for our residents based on their level of cognitive impairment.
Dementia and Behavioral Health Medications
Have you ever experienced a resident whose behavior became aggressive? This module will help you increase your knowledge of psychotropic medications’ benefits and risks in managing dementia-related behaviors.
Nonpharmacological Approaches to Behavioral Management
Have you ever experienced a resident whose behavior became aggressive? This module will help you develop new strategies to manage dementia-related behaviors before seeking a medication solution.
Promotion of Oral Hygiene
Have you ever struggled to help a resident brush their teeth? This module outlines seven strategies to assist people living with dementia maintain their oral health.
Understanding Alzheimer's Diseases and Related Dementias
Learn about the common types of dementia including Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Mixed Dementia, and Mild Cognitive impairment and identify best practices in care to help manage symptoms of dementia.
ICARE (Infection Control Advocate and Resident Education)
Infection Control Advocate and Resident Education (ICARE) provides online training curricula for nursing home residents, staff, family members, and advocates to promote best practice strategies for infection control while respecting resident rights.
Learning modules for community health workers
Aging Well Together: Age-friendly and Dementia-friendly Care
Community Health Workers will learn how to support older adults and caregivers, especially in rural, underserved and tribal communities, through age-friendly and dementia-friendly care. This module is listed under CHW Older Adult Care: Mentation Focus with the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Care for Older Adults
According to the CDC, older adults (CDC, 2020) are at risk for low health literacy and thus, do not seek preventive care or follow-up on suggested care. This module teaches CHWs clinical preventive services where they can refer people/clients to help prevent disease or find disease early, when treatment is more effective.
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 U1QHP28735. 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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