GERIATRIC HEALTH ISSUES

Course overview

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion, the participant should be able to: List the common geriatric syndromes and conditions, including risk factors, causes, signs, symptoms, differential diagnoses, treatments and preventive strategies. Understand what aging is on the cellular level Define important psychosocial issues of aging, including those related to retirement, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, under-reporting of symptoms and illnesses, elder abuse and neglect, home safety, community resources, and adaptation to alternative living situations such as long-term care facilities Identify the important concepts of pathophysiology and issues in common diseases of older people. Identify strategies to help defeat the negative effects of aging such as nutritional regimens which will be a major point of this lecture Demonstrate an understanding of the myths and stereotypes related to older people and "ageism"; the diversity among the elderly; the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration; a compassion for individuals providing day-to-day care to the elderly; and the appreciation for the importance of maximizing function rather than just focusing on disease. Identify and demonstrate the "best practices" of geriatric communication. Describe the basic concepts of demography and epidemiology of aging; molecular, cellular, genetic and biopsychosocial theories of aging; "normal aging" versus disease at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organisms levels, and the role of failure of homeostatic mechanisms; anatomic and histologic changes associated with aging and age-related disease; the physiology of aging; the pharmacology of aging; nutrition and aging; as well as sexuality and the aging individual. Course Date: TBD