Course Summary

In the United States the population is aging and, in the coming decades, this trend is anticipated to increase. The rapid increase in the older population worldwide coincides with a mounting concern about geriatic mental health and treatment strategies focused on patient comorbidity and palliative measures. No exact estimates exist of the number of informal caregivers in the United States. Caregiving involves a major financial burden on family members with multiple factors affecting the cost of caring for an elderly family member that often goes unreported. Attitudes of medical providers and nurses when intervening for patients with Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders is discussed as an evolving area of care involving elderly and disabled populations.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• I.      Introduction
• II.     Chronic Disease and Life Expectancy
• III.    Chronic Disease and Mental Disorders in Elderly Patients
  • 1.        Prevalence of Depression in Elderly Patients
  • 2.        Diagnosing Depression in Chronically Ill Elderly Patients
  • 3.        Treating Depression in the Elderly
  • 4.        Chronic Disease Superimposed on Mental Illness
  • 5.        Somatic Symptom Disorder under DSM-5
• IV.    Challenges for the Long-Term Care Health Team
  • 1.        Maintaining Hope
  • 2.        The Terminal Phase
  • 3.        Adverse Effects of Treatment
  • 4.        Psychosocial Aspects of Care
• V.     Elder Care and Impact on Health Providers
  • 1.        Factors Influencing Responses
  • 2.        Education and Training
  • 3.        Interdisciplinary Team
  • 4.        Provider Self-care
• VI.    Family Caregivers
  • 1.        Role of the Family Caregiver
  • 2.        Impact on Caregiver’s Health
  • 3.        Caregiver Trajectory
  • 4.        Support System for the Caregiver
  • 5.        Positive Effects of Caregiving
• VII.    Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders
  • 1.        Clinician Attitudes and DNR Orders
• VIII.   Quality of Life for Elderly
  • 1.        Neurological and Behavioral Functions in the Elderly
• IX.     Case Study: Depression in the Elderly
• X.      Summary

Author

Jennifer McAnally, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Jennifer McAnally holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and specializes in the field of family psychiatry. She has worked in child and adult mental health and substance use treatment settings for over 10 years. She worked previously in academic research settings and as the medical device division manager of a biomedical firm and tissue bank. She has also worked in regulatory oversight of Medicaid programs at the state level. Jennifer’s earlier degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Microbiology with emphasis on whole-genome bioinformatics, both from Montana State University. Jennifer is a passionate activist in the field of mental health services, and is dedicated as a mother of two children, to family and to her community in Montana.