Course Description
It is estimated that around 13% of Americans aged 71 years and older are affected by dementia. The number of cases rises drastically (nearly 40%) among people 90 and older. Dementia is diagnosed when deficits in memory, language and visual perception become too severe, interfering with the patients ability to function independently.
This course provides tools for effective evaluation and therapeutic intervention with the dementia patient. Participants will learn to stage cognition and cognitive performance as well as utilize effective strategies to enhance independence, function, cooperation, and behavior reduction for the client with dementia. You will acquire new skills to enhance long-term care planning and help patients and families prepare for disease progression and future transitions in cognition. The skills and strategies taught in this seminar can be implemented into practice the very next day to provide better care and achieve better results with dementia patients.
This Seminar-On-Demand is 5 contact hours in length (check your state’s approval status in the state specific course catalog for your profession).
Contact Hours: 5 
Target Audience: 
Instructional Level: Advanced Accreditation Information:
| State | Discipline | Approval Status | Provider Code | Expiration Date |
|---|
Course Outline:
Hour 1:
- Dementia Etiology/Stages
- The Brain: Cerebrum & Cerebellum, Bisection, Basal Gangila
- Sensory Impairment
- Principals of Neuron Cell Specialization
- Normal vs. Alzheimer’s MRI
Hour 2:
- Global Deterioration Scale & Definitions of Types of Decline
- Hiding Cognitive Deficits
- Why Do Irreversible Happen?
- Dementia Diagnosis Types: Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, AIDS,
- Dementia Diagnosis Types: Pick’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease,
- Dementia Diagnosis Types: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Hour 3:
- Stages of Dementia: Early, Mid, Late, Terminal
- Management of Dementia
- ADLS
- Assistance and Communication: Physical, Verbal Cues, Gestural Cues, Written, Visual Cues
- Video Lab Demonstration
- Promoting Independence
Hour 4:
- Troubleshooting Common ADL Problems: Dining, Bathing, Dressing, Hygiene & Grooming, Physical Disability
- Behavior Management and Prevention
- Causes of Challenging Behaviors & Cues Indicating Discomfort
- Direct vs. Indirect Video Lab Demonstration
- Prevention/Approaches
Hour 5:
- Common Contractures
- Sales Tactics for PROM Compliance from Caregivers Video Lab Demonstration
- Balance and Strength & The Seven Senses
- Importance of Activities & Care Planning
- Allen Cognitive Level Video Lab Demonstration
- Brief Cognitive Rating Scale Video Lab Demonstration
- Mental Models Help & Hurt Us
Course Goals & Objectives:
Course Goals:
This course is intended to instruct the professional through a self-paced study of tools for effective evaluation and therapeutic intervention with the dementia patient.
Professional Objectives:
Upon completion of this course the participant will be able to:
- Recognize potential clinical characteristics of behaviors and performance associated with cognitive decline using the Global Deterioration Scale and Scan reports.
- Identify key areas for managing dementia, including activities of daily living (ADLs), balance, strength, and fall prevention
- Recognize the Antecedent Behavior Consequence (ABC) behavior Observation model to intervene and prevent challenging behaviors in a case study.
- Identify diagnoses of common and rare irreversible and reversible dementias.
- Define Cognitive Performance Modes.
- Recognize four lobes and their functions.
- Define hippocampus.
Criteria for Completion:
A score of 70% or more is considered passing. Scores of less than 70% indicate a failure to understand the material and the test will need to be taken again until a passing score has been achieved.
Disclosures:
Contact Hours: 5
Target Audience: Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Registered Nurses.
Instructional Level: Advanced
Course Type: Seminar-On-Demand
Personnel Disclosure:
- Financial – Heather Goodwin is employed by Cross Country Education and receives a salary. She receives royalty payments for the presentation of this course from HomeCEUConnection.com.
- Nonfinancial – No relevant nonfinancial relationships exist.
- No relevant conflicts of interest exist for any member of the activity planning committee.
Authors:
Heather Goodwin, MS, OT/L
Heather Goodwin is a licensed Occupational Therapist with more than ten years of experience specializing in dementia care. She is the CEO and founder of Vital Spark LLC, an occupational therapy and life coaching company, where she provides therapy consulting services and clinical education for health care practitioners on dementia care. She also works clinically as an Occupational Therapist in Home Care and Sub Acute Rehab/Long-Term Care.
Ms. Goodwin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of New Hampshire-Durham and a master's degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University, where her thesis project focused on clinical education for nurse assistants in dementia care. In addition, she participated in an independent study at Stepping Stones, a member run community program for clients with acquired brain injury. She is currently an active member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the New Hampshire Occupational Therapy Association (NHOTA), and the Allen Cognitive Network, and served as chair of the Mental Health Special Interest Section for the NHOTA.
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