End of Life: Hospice and Advanced Directives
A significant proportion (60-80%) of people prefer to die in their home, however few Americans (24%) have the opportunity to die at home. Participate in this module to learn the key elements and services of hospice and palliative care, and management of end of life symptoms. This module is designed to help multidisciplinary learners acquire communication skills to effectively deliver bad news, and discuss advance directives, including end of life decisions, using a shared decision making process.
Geriatric Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
The pillars of preventative geriatric care include screening, counseling and immunizations. Participate in this module to learn about national guideline recommendations for screening older adults, screening special populations, such as veterans, and strategies for counseling older adults about nutrition, exercise, and social connectivity. Learn which immunizations are recommended for older adults and what preventative services are available.
Medication Management in Older Adults
Medication management has a great impact on patient outcomes including reduction of emergency department visits, decreases of serious drug events, reduction of healthcare expenditures, and decreases of medication related problems. Medication management may be completed across a variety of settings by the interprofessional team. Participate in this module to learn about medication review, medication therapy management (MTM), and comprehensive medication management (CMM).
Drug Therapy in Older Adults
Polypharmacy and adverse drug events are common in older adults and occur across care settings. Participate in this module to learn about polypharmacy consequences in older adults, practice implications of non-adherence and polypharmacy, common drug-drug and drug-food interactions, and common adverse drug events in older adults. Learn practical approaches to improving medication prescribing and monitoring.
Depression and Delirium of the Older Adult
Delirium and depression may coexist but are not the same diagnosis. Among the older adult population depression may often be confused with delirium or dementia. Participate in this module to better understand the difference between delirium and depression in older adults and learn the standardized tools for measuring cognitive, behavioral, and/or mood changes. Acquire successful strategies for managing delirium and depression using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches.
Depression and Delirium of the Older Adult
Delirium and depression may coexist but are not the same diagnosis. Among the older adult population depression may often be confused with delirium or dementia. Participate in this module to better understand the difference between delirium and depression in older adults and learn the standardized tools for measuring cognitive, behavioral, and/or mood changes. Acquire successful strategies for managing delirium and depression using pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches.
What Matters
This toolkit authored by Edward Ratner contains resources for teaching learners how to obtain information from older patients and their family or other caregivers that aligns with their specific health outcome goals and care preference. These resources provide content related to the "What Matters" concept in the 4Ms framework of an Age-Friendly Health System. It contains introductory material appropriate for undergraduate and graduate level learners. This toolkit contains two components: a Learner Module and a compendium of Teaching and Learning Resources.
Effective Medication Self-Management
This toolkit was authored by Brian J. Isetts in collaboration with Kristine Talley and supported by colleagues of the Interprofessional Geriatrics Coordinating Council. It contains resources for teaching older persons and family caregivers how to conduct a medication self-management assessment. It also contains introductory material appropriate for undegraduate and graduate level learners, and is intended to help older persons confidently manage their medications. The toolkit has two components: a learner module and compendium of teaching and learning resources.
Oral Health and the Older Adult
Total health and wellness are inextricably linked to oral health. Participate in this module to understand the unique oral health needs of the older adult and how to assess and manage common oral health problems. Learn about the impact oral disease has on the physical, psychological, social and economic health and well-being of older adults.
Managing Multiple Chronic Conditions: Challenges in the Care of Older Adults
An increasing number of people are living with Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC). These older adults with MCC experience a high level of “illness burden” (poor quality of life, depression, “treatment burden” (multiple uncoordinated visits, polypharmacy) and lack of person-centered care (low continuity, lack of focus on patients’ priorities). This module covers optimizing care for older adults with MCC by reducing treatment burden and unplanned care.