Full Course Description

2-Day: Geriatric Conference

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Appraise the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
  2. Determine appropriate diagnostic tests to achieve accurate diagnosis.
  3. Devise interventions that are effective and promote positive communication between staff, family & the older adult.
  4. Apply techniques and identify strategies to avoid adverse drug events and drug disease interactions.
  5. Develop individualized monitoring plans for geriatric patients through the evaluation of high risk medications.
  6. Appraise at least three new guideline recommendations related to geriatric pharmacology.
  7. Implement controlled substance/pain management contracts into practice.
  8. Prepare to manage symptoms of controlled substance and alcohol misuse and abuse in geriatric patients.
  9. Develop best practice methods for prescribing in the geriatric population.
  10. Determine strategies to diminish the occurrence of behavioral problems in individuals with dementia.
  11. Apply behavioral and environmental techniques to diminish challenging behavioral problems.
  12. Analyze how cognitive impairment in older individuals is affected by environment, caregiver schedules, and responses to the behaviors.
  13. Develop strategies to identify abuse and neglect.
  14. Distinguish etiologic and pathologic factors associated with neurological, orthopedic, abdominal, cardiovascular & pulmonary emergencies.
  15. Differentiate between typical aging and complex management of co-morbidities in the elderly.
  16. Develop age-sensitive principles for medication dosing and management to clinical scenarios.
  17. Propose key questions useful for identifying and managing polypharmacy in older adults.

Outline

DAY ONE

SESSION 1: DIFFERENTIATING DEMENTIAS

Distinguishing the various types of dementia is often difficult. This session provides tools to appropriately screen patients experiencing dementia, along with discussion of the most effective interventions to improve the care you provide.

  • Normal vs. Abnormal Aging
  • Types of Dementias
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
  • Substance-Induced Neurocognitive Disorder
  • Pharmacological Management

SESSION 2: GERIATRIC PHARMACOLOGY: TOOLS FOR THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL

For geriatric patients taking more than five medications, the statistical chance of a drug drug interaction or adverse event is 100%! For those experiencing an adverse drug event, one third will require additional treatment. This session will provide straightforward tools that will help you care for older adults receiving multiple medications.

  • Drug Utilization Amongst the Elderly
  • Billing Codes That You MUST Know
  • Clinical Pharmacological Issues in the Elderly

SESSION 3: PAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE ELDERLY

This presentation will review the different categories of controlled substances and their appropriate use in the geriatric patient. Explore special considerations and tools to aid in prescribing and managing pain in the geriatric patient.

  • The Challenges Associated with Controlled Substances
  • Pain Control... Is every patient’s RIGHT

DAY TWO

SESSION 1: MANAGING GERIATRIC BEHAVIORS: WANDERING, AGGRESSION, MALNUTRITION AND MORE

Behaviors such as wandering, aggression and anxiety can pose significant barriers to the delivery of essential care. Geriatric syndromes such as malnutrition, dehydration and insomnia can diminish quality of life and threaten independence. This session will explore the most frequent problematic behaviors and discuss strategies to improve the care you provide to your geriatric patients.

  • Wandering
  • Physical Aggression
  • Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
  • Eating Issues & Nutrition in Elders with Dementia
  • Sleepless Nights & Sundowning
  • Professional Issues

SESSION 2: GERIATRIC EMERGENCIES

A high-energy, dynamic session filled with interesting case studies, insightful discussions and interactive learning. You will leave with practical techniques that you can apply right away – if you work with geriatric patients, you don’t want to miss this!

  • Physiological Changes with Aging
  • Common Underlying Chronic Illness
  • Cardiovascular Emergencies
  • Pulmonary Emergencies
  • Cerebrovascular Emergencies
  • Orthopedic Emergencies
  • Abdominal Emergencies

SESSION 3: TOP TEN MEDICATIONS TO AVOID IN THE GERIATRIC PATIENT

Explore medication dosing guidelines and polypharmacy management principles to ensure safe prescribing in the geriatric patient. Review the top ten medications to avoid and alternatives that can be equally effective.

  • The BEERS List
  • Risks Associated with Anticholinergic Drugs
  • The TOP TEN
  • 5 Things Patients & Physicians Should Question

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants
  • Physical Therapists
  • Physical Therapist Assistants
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Social Workers
  • Physicians
  • Nursing Home Administrators

Copyright : 05/17/2021

Geriatric Pharmacology: Maximizing Safety & Effectiveness

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Determine preventative techniques and individual monitoring plans to minimize adverse drug events and drug-drug interactions.
  2. Apply the principles of polypharmacy to the patient with cognitive impairment.
  3. Analyze the effects of aging on pharmacokinetics.
  4. Evaluate major causes, mechanism and early symptoms of drug-induced toxicity.
  5. Assess tools used to safely taper and discontinue medications.
  6. Apply prescribing strategies for the geriatric patient.
  7. Integrate age-sensitive principles for medication dosing and management to clinical scenarios.

Outline

Aging and Pharmacodynamics

  • Effects of Aging on Drug Therapy
  • Variations in Drug Half-life and Clearance
  • Drug Dosing in Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Common Inappropriate & Over-prescribed Drugs
  • Identifying Subtle Clues to Prevent an Adverse Drug Reaction

Drug-Drug Interactions

  • The P450 System
  • The Magic Drug Number in the Elderly
  • The Top 10 Medications to Avoid
  • The Top 10 Drug-drug Interactions
  • Drugs Associated with Weight Loss

Strategies to Avoid Adverse Drug Events

  • Identifying Subtle Clues to Prevent an Adverse Drug Reaction
  • Individualizing a Monitoring Plan
  • Mandatory Gradual Dose Reduction (GDR)
  • The Garfinkel Method for Drug Discontinuation

The "BEERS Criteria"

  • What are the Experts Saying?
  • Follow the Criteria OR go with your Instincts?
  • When Inappropriate Drugs are OK

STOPP and START

  • New Recommendations
  • Guidelines by Body System
  • Putting it all Together - Still a Puzzle?

Controversial Vitamins & Herbal Supplements

  • Is your Multivitamin killing you?
  • After 19 years, the Research is in
  • Advising your Patients Appropriately
  • The Vitamins that Help & the Ones that Hurt

Psychopharmacology

  • Selecting the Right Medication
  • Challenges in LTC
  • Black Box WARNINGS

Dementia, Depression & Delirium

  • The 3 "Ds" in Geriatrics
  • Drugs that Cause Cognitive Impairment

Prescribing Challenges & Solutions

  • Cardiovascular
    • Digoxin, Amiodarone & the Risk of Orthostatsis
    • The New Anti-Hypertensive Guidelines
  • Neurological
    • The Risk of "Sleepers": Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, Zaleplon
  • Endocrinology
    • "Doc I've got a Low 'T'"
    • Eliminating Sliding Scales
  • Gastrointestinal
    • Risks of Proton-pump-inhibitors (PPIs)
    • Best Antiemetic Choices
  • Anticholinergics
    • Associated Psychosis
    • Increased Anxiety and Agitation
  • Antithrombotics
    • Is Aspirin Still Recommended?
  • Anti-Infectives
    • Antibiotic Stewardship
    • Drug Resistance Concerns
    • Major Contributors to Cdiff
  • Pain Meds
    • Newest Guidelines for Opioid Discontinuance
    • Alternatives to Opioids

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 03/12/2019