Course Summary

Memory loss in the older population generally involves a progressive decline in more than one cognitive domain that interferes with activities of daily living. The four most common types of age-related disorders where memory loss occurs include Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia. Another cause of memory loss is mild cognitive impairment, which includes people who do not have functional impairments that meet the criteria for dementia but whose cognitive function falls within the changes associated with normal aging. Elderly people with dementia are at higher risk of comorbid mental health and physical conditions that are often missed or misdiagnosed. They are also at higher risk of being abused, often within the confines of their own home, by family members, and feel unable to report abuse due to fear of loss, retaliation, and removal from their home. End-of-life decisions are best made with the involvement of all interdisciplinary health team members to help manage the transitions that arise with changes from a home care setting to a specialized community care or long-term care setting, including the possibility of hospice care.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Memory Disorders in the Elderly
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
  • Long-Term Care Services
• Home Care and Adult Daycare
  • Nursing Home Care
  • Alzheimer’s Special Care Units and Memory Care
• Depression in the Elderly
  • Comorbid Physical and Depressive Conditions
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Symptoms of Geriatric Depression
  • Treatment: Antidepressants and Augmentation Strategies
• Elder Abuse
  • Physical, Psychological, Sexual, and Deprivation
  • Neglect and Abandonment
  • Rights, Self-neglect, Institutional, Social Media
  • Warning Signs of Elder Abuse
  • Risk Factors of Elder Abuse
  • Health Consequences of Abuse
  • Elder Abuse Prevention
  • Reporting Elder Abuse
• End-of-Life Care
  • Interdisciplinary Health Team Role
  • Ethical Issues
  • Hospice and Palliative Care
  • Transitioning to Palliative Care
  • Diverse Cultural and Spiritual Care Needs
  • Advance Directive Care Planning
  • Communication with Elderly and Family Members
  • Informed Consent and Decision-Making Capacity
  • Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
• Case Study: Alzheimer’s Disease
• Summary

Authors

Noah H. Carpenter, MD

Dr. Noah Carpenter is a Thoracic and Peripheral Vascular Surgeon. He completed his Bachelor of Science in chemistry and medical school and training at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Carpenter completed surgical residency and fellowship at the University of Edmonton and Affiliated Hospitals in Edmonton, Alberta, and an additional Adult Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has specialized in microsurgical techniques, vascular endoscopy, laser and laparoscopic surgery in Brandon, Manitoba and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and in Colorado, Texas, and California. Dr. Carpenter has an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Calgary, and was appointed a Citizen Ambassador to China, and has served as a member of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories, Canada Science Council, and the International Society of Endovascular Surgeons, among others. He has been an inspiration to youth, motivating them to understand the importance of achieving higher education.

Michelle Herron, DNP-BC

Michelle Herron holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. She plans to specialize in psychiatric services for transitional age youth and young adults. She has worked in child and adolescent mental health for 13 years. She previously worked at Shodair Children’s Hospital as a Program Director and as the Director of Quality and Risk Management. She also served as the Infection Control Nurse for the organization. Michelle’s earlier degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Montana State University Northern. Michelle is passionate about serving vulnerable populations and mental health needs. Michelle is a dedicated mother to four daughters and three granddaughters. She is committed to serving children and adults in her community in Montana.

Kellie Wilson, PharmD

Kellie Wilson is a Doctor of Pharmacy practicing in Anaconda, Montana, where she lives with her husband and four children. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula where she graduated in 2009 with a doctorate in pharmacy. She later worked in Boise, Idaho for a large, retail pharmacy for 2 years, and then returned home to Montana to oversee an independently owned retail and long-term care pharmacy in Anaconda. As an independent retail pharmacist she has become very involved in psychiatric pharmacy for two major behavioral health organizations that are located around all of Montana. Kellie’s passion is retail pharmacy because she enjoys the interactions with customers as well as the challenges and rewards of staying current with the continuous changes in the pharmacy field.