Full Course Description

2-Day: Geriatric Conference

Are you keeping up with the current recommendations and guidelines?

No matter your specialty, you MUST know how to address the unique concerns of the older adults under your care. Geriatrics is a field in and of itself, but many of us haven't had extensive training on the nuances and complexities that make treatment challenging. In this comprehensive live webcast, geriatric expert, Steven Atkinson, PA-C, MS, will guide you through the normal and abnormal changes of the aging mind and body, providing you with the knowledge that will improve the care you provide. Steven is passionate about his work and looks forward to sharing his expertise with you. Leave with practical and insightful tips and tools you can use the next day!

Identify complications and respond more appropriately
Confidently and effectively communicate with patients and their families
Provide safer and more effective care

Get Management Strategies and More for:

Alzheimer's Disease & Dementias
Pain Management
Geriatric Pharmacology
Geriatric Emergencies
Managing Challenging Behaviors
Caregiver Stress & Burnout
And Much More

Program Information

Objectives

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

Effective Fall Prevention in the Geriatric Population: Strategies from the CDC’s Dynamic Trio

The CDC has dedicated itself to address fall prevention in the geriatric population through the STEADI Initiative (Stop Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries). Analyze the algorithms that address each area that impact fall risk. STEADI will be covered comprehensively, including balance, medications, home environments, medical conditions and fear of falling. Key takeaways from the latest research will offer new patient fall prevention solutions.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze the latest advances in fall prevention from the CDC – STEADI Initiative for Fall Prevention into your practice.
Distinguish between comprehensive screening tools and assessments to identify issues with balance, visual-spatial functioning, proprioception and other root causes of fall risk.
Select the most appropriate intervention to safely restore balance, mobility and function in your patients.
Determine how home-based risk factors that contribute to falls can be mitigated.

Outline

Integrate the Latest Advances in Fall Prevention

CDC’s STEADI Initiative
- Screen, assess and intervene
- 3 key questions to ask your patients
- Case Study: RBG

Comprehensive Assessments

Identify issues with balance, visual-spatial functioning, and proprioception
Stay Independent Brochure
Evidence-based gait and balance tests
Home hazards, BP, Visual Test
Feet and footwear issues
Comorbidities to consider

Impact of Medications on Fall Risk

Beers criteria for medications
Interventions for optimizing the medication list

Safely Restore Balance, Mobility and Function

Assess available interventions
Evidence-based exercise program details
Treatments for BP issues
Referrals for vision impairment
Appropriate exercise RX for older adults

Home Based Risk Factors

Evaluation and intervention for:
- Home hazards
- Foot and footwear issues
Referrals for home and community based exercise and fall prevention programs

Target Audience

Nurses
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Athletic Trainers
Exercise Physiologists

Copyright : 07/29/2020

Challenging Geriatric Behaviors

This is the best recording on challenging geriatric behaviors that you will ever complete – GUARANTEED! Join Edward G. Shaw, MD, MA, speaker on geriatrics for a high-energy, dynamic program filled with interesting case studies, insightful discussions and interactive learning. You will finish this recording with practical techniques that you can apply the next day!

Dealing with cognitively-impaired geriatric patients can be challenging even for the experienced healthcare professional. You will learn strategies to manage behaviors such as:

Dementia
Aggression
Anxiety and depression
Refusal of food and fluids
Inappropriate sexual advances

If older adults are routinely under your care, minimize your risk of escalating the problems associated with troublesome, often irrational behavior by attending this program. Gain valuable insights into the causes of challenging geriatric behaviors and learn innovative and practical intervention strategies to improve the care you provide.

Program Information

Objectives

Develop strategies to manage difficult behaviors in seniors who have an altered perception of reality.
Manage the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.
Appraise current research on the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as lifestyle factors to slow the disease progression.
Determine the safety issues associated with geriatric patients who drive, to be able to identify individuals who pose a safety threat.
Develop strategies to minimize or redirect wandering behavior in individuals with cognitive impairment.
Analyze environmental and behavioral causes of agitation.
Differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate sexual behaviors in individuals with dementia.
Distinguish between normal sleeping patterns and bedtime issues which could lead to increased health problems.
Analyze the physical and psychological changes that affect an elder’s desire and ability to eat including the changes in nutritional requirements.
Determine the signs of caregiver stress and develop intervention strategies to prevent burnout.

Outline

Normal Aging, Dementia, Depression or Delirium

Normal aging changes of the mind
Depression, dementia, and delirium
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
Diagnose, differentiate, and develop a plan of care

Alzheimer’s Disease

Stages
Assessment
Getting a diagnosis
Behavioral issues of early diagnosis
Management and interventions
Pharmacological treatments /li>

Driving with Dementia

Driving safety
Legal issues
Assess driving abilities
How to take the keys away

Wandering

Reasons why cognitively impaired individuals wander
Is wandering a bad thing?
Issues to consider
Manage a wanderer’s behavior

Physical Aggression

Identify the cause of aggression
Loss of impulse control
Regression of the mind/child-like mind
Manage the problem

Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors

Normal sexual drive or inappropriate behavior
Cognitively impaired individuals
Medication management
Ethical considerations

Refusing to Eat/Forgetting to Eat

Reasons why geriatric patients slow or stop eating
Nutritional needs in a geriatric patient
Improve nutritional status
Malnutrition and dehydration
Alternatives to eating

Sleepless Nights

Sundowning and behavioral problems in the evening
Why does sundowning occur?
Environmental interventions to decrease aggressive behaviors
Medication management when it becomes problematic

Caregiver Stress

Physical, psychological, and emotional stress
Identify caregiver burnout and ways to help
Assist the caregiver

Other Issues

Ways to identify potential falls and prevent injury
Causes for orthostatic hypotension
Ways to avoid using restraints

Case Studies: Learning from Experience and Mistakes

How to manage sundowners
Strategies to improve hygiene
Reassurance and redirection

Target Audience

Nurses
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Speech-Language Pathologists
Social Workers
Home Healthcare Providers
Nursing Home Administrators
Registered Dietitians & Dietetic Technicians
Recreation Therapists

Copyright : 04/24/2020

Treatment of Individuals with Dementia, TBI, Concussion, Stroke and Cognitive Decline; Foundations in Brain Science as it Relates to Cognitive Rehabilitation and Neuroplasticity

Over the next 20 years, the prevalence of dementia will continue to increase significantly as the baby boomer generation enters the age group of greatest risk. Do you have the skillset and tools to maximize treatment outcomes with this population? Regardless of your profession, information presented in this course will maximize your understanding of brain science, memory and cognitive decline while enabling improved responses to your treatment objectives. This course provides immediate empowerment to help your clients reduce dementia risk/cognitive decline and facilitate improvement once discovered.

Dr. Sherrie All offers a straightforward approach to introduce and explain current neuroscience while allowing immediate clinical application to your clients. Learn how to identify and find the problem and then how to set realistic evidence-based treatment goals. Dr. All shares a comprehensive toolbox of evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation interventions to optimize brain power, improve memory and reduce the rate of cognitive decline.

Drawing on over 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. All will teach you techniques and interventions to effectively:

Speak with confidence of neuroanatomy as it relates to memory and cognitive functioning with peers and clients/family members
Assess for cognitive decline and accurately interpret complicated assessment reports
Understand the difference between cognitive stimulation, cognitive training and cognitive rehabilitation
Create actionable treatment plans to immediately help your clients
Expand working memory and enhance attention, generalizing to real-world functioning
Convey the importance of activity and exercise to maintain optimal brain health
Determine when to refer out to a specialist for more detailed assessment
Educate patients/clients to decrease fear and empower with evidence-based tools for improved cognitive function

Walk away with practical and useful techniques that can be implemented immediately within your practice. Start feeling confident in delivering the rehabilitation interventions your clients facing cognitive decline so desperately need!

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate the usefulness of cognitive screeners such as the MOCA and SLUMS versus when to refer out to a qualified neuropsychologist.
Design treatment interventions based on realistic treatment goals and the evidence supporting compensatory vs. restorative strategies.
Determine the effect of client anxiety and false beliefs to inform the clinician’s choice of treatment interventions.
Utilize motivational interviewing techniques and appropriate selection of rehabilitation interventions to improve client engagement.
Utilize specific interventions to enhance attention, memory, visuospatial, language and executive skill functioning.
Implement treatment interventions to improve holistic brain health in clinical settings.

Outline

THE FRAMEWORK AND SCIENCE OF COGNITIVE REHABILITATION: NOT ALL BRAIN GAMES ARE REHABILITATION

Brain plasticity and the latest research
Associated brain regions and functions
Compensatory vs. restorative strategies
Cognitive stimulation, cognitive training and cognitive rehabilitation

ASSESSMENT APPROACHES FOR COGNITIVE DECLINE

What the MOCA and SLUMS are telling you and not telling you
When to refer for a full neuropsychological assessment
Make the most of assessment results including neuropsychology reports
Static (TBI / stroke) vs. progressive decline (Alzheimer’s disease): Set and maintain realistic treatment goals
Taking care to not “over-pathologize” concussions: Know the difference between concussion, TBI, CTE and dementia
The use of mood and personality measures

INTERVENTION APPROACHES FOR BARRIERS TO REHABILITATION: MOOD, MOTIVATION & ANXIETY

Motivational interviewing to cultivate engagement and brain health interventions
Treat anxiety and false beliefs to improve cognition
Adjustment to illness and grief: Counseling the brain impaired patient

THE COGNITIVE DECLINE TOOLBOX:
Real World Treatment Strategies for Each Cognitive Domain

ATTENTION & WORKING MEMORY

The neural bases of attention impairment
Help clients understand working memory capacity as a means of improving metacognition
Improve attention and reduce errors by following the DIRECT model and using PEAS & LEAP
“Focused drilling” to expand working memory capacity and generalizing to other outcomes
Mindfulness training to help clients shape attention and improve focus

MEMORY: PROSPECTIVE, ENCODING & RECALL

The neural bases of memory impairment
Frontiers in Alzheimer’s disease management
Tailor memory training interventions to level of severity & motivation
Effective use of calendars and other external memory aids for effective daily functioning
Elaborative encoding techniques using visualization, linking and chunking
Memory aids in traditional psychotherapy treatments
Strategies for effective recall of learned information

EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

The neural bases of executive function impairment
Stroke and cerebrovascular disease
Improve planning for greater goal attainment with the use of a reverse timeline worksheet
Expand flexible thinking with 6-step problem solving
The neural basis of stress management and emotion regulation

VISUOSPATIAL & LANGUAGE

The neural bases of visual and language impairment
Useful Field of View Training (UFOV) for driving independence
The “language wallet” for independence among people with aphasia
Supported conversation and script training for aphasia

HOLISTIC BRAIN HEALTH INTERVENTIONS

Shape the brain’s destiny: Cognitive reserve to build resistance and resilience to cognitive decline
The impact of socialization on brain health and recovery
Psychotherapy’s impact on brain health
Effective cognitive stimulation: The truth about brain games & crosswords
Teach clients how their brain works through metacognition intervention

RESEARCH, LIMITATIONS AND RISKS

Target Audience

Social Workers
Psychologists
Counselors
Neuropsychologists
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists
Speech-Language Pathologists
Nurses
Nursing Home Administrators
Assisted Living Facility Administrators
Long Term/Acute Care Professionals
Case Managers
Marriage & Family Therapists
Psychiatrists

Nearing the End of Life: Dare to Care

Families ask . . . what would you do if this were your loved one? Learn how to reply without bias …
Creative ways to discuss withdrawing or withholding treatment
Manage patient pain and symptoms: Medical marijuana, morphine, palliative sedation or fewer medications?
Tips to guide code status conversations with patients and families
Resolve family dysfunction surrounding end of life decisions
Requests to “humanely euthanize”/hastening death: How to respond?
Hear powerful case studies that provide examples of expert, holistic care

Eleanor is an 83-year-old widowed lady with known chronic heart failure and advanced dementia. She is now hospitalized with a significant stroke and dysphagia. She does not have a healthcare directive and had never discussed what she would want, other than staying at home until she dies. She is full code. Her family still wants resuscitation attempted. Her children admit they are concerned about what is best for their mother.

What are options for Eleanor and her family? Would she benefit from artificial hydration and nutrition? How is she going to receive medications? Can some of her medications be discontinued? Who is going to be her caregiver?

In this compelling seminar, multiple case studies like Eleanor’s will provide you with examples that you can incorporate when care is more important than cure. To deliver expert, holistic care, healthcare professionals need to have a toolbox full of new interventions to promote quality care at the end of life.

Have you ever been asked, “what would you do if this was your family member?” Learn conversation options to use while staying neutral.

Did you know that a patient might enroll on hospice care and be a full code? We will discuss how this is done.

What can we do for patients seeking euthanasia who see this as the best solution? These situations are becoming more frequent. Anticipate how you will respond.

Strategies regarding comfort, communication, choices and control have unique issues and challenges for patients, families and health professionals. We have an obligation to know how to help provide emotional, spiritual, existential, and physical comfort for those who have life-limiting conditions and to support them through difficult decisions. It’s time to think outside the box.

Program Information

Outline

An Inexact Art & Science
- Illness and dying trajectories
- Frailty
- Dementia
- Prognostication and prognostic scales
- When to refer to palliative care or hospice (disease specific)
Essentials of Care: Comfort, Communication, Choices, Control
- Comfort Always
  - Morphine: Still the gold standard?
  - Pain during the final hours of life
  - Drug misuse: How to avoid it
  - Opioids for dyspnea
  - Thirst vs. xerostomia
  - Medical marijuana
- Complementary and alternative therapies
  - Emotional distress interventions
  - The role of spirituality
  - Palliative sedation
  - Communication: Everyone is Involved
  - Advance care planning: More than just a form
  - The terminology matters
  - Your role in these critical conversations
  - How much can we share?
  - Truth vs. hope
  - Code status discussions
  - DNR does not mean do not treat
  - Addressing concerns and needs of the family
  - Thanatophobia: Is it fear of dying or fear of death?
  - Premortem surge
  - Near death awareness
  - The dying process
- Choices: Shared Decision-Making
  - Nutrition & hydration choices
  - Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED): Benefits & burdens
  - Life-sustaining treatment
  - Non-beneficial treatment choices
  - Faith-based influences
  - Ventilator support
  - Dialysis or renal palliative care
  - Devices to extend life
  - Hastened death request: Why not humanely euthanize?
- Allowing Control: Patient-Centered Care
  - Reframing hope
  - What do family members want you to consider
  - Who makes the decision
  - What about family dysfunction…
  - Is the focus quality or quantity?
  - Decision to withhold or withdraw care
  - Challenging decisions: Honoring patients’ wishes
- Cultivating Moral Resiliency
  - Moral resilience–preserving/restoring integrity
  - Personal vs. professional grieving
  - Enabling character and honorable action
  - Ethical Competency

Objectives

Analyze how complementary therapies enhance quality of life for patients.
Evaluate the risks and benefits of medical marijuana.
Categorize the eight domains of the National Consensus Project.
Analyze five complications related to artificial hydration and nutrition.
Assess ethical issues often seen at the end of life.
Formulate two strategies to diminish fear of death and dying.
Connect moral resiliency to palliative care.

Target Audience

Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, Social Workers, Counselors, Case Managers, Chaplains, Clergy