INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY FOR REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS - SOD PT

Course overview

As the ratio of people over sixty-five continues to rise, the demand for healthcare professionals who are adept at understanding the basic mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases rises in tandem. Rehabilitation professionals who specialize in gerontology are urgently needed to fill that need. The professionals are the key to helping the elderly population to lead active lives, remain in their homes and receive healthcare that accomadates their specific needs. This course addresses the issues that occur with the aging population along with their rehabilitation concerns. Participants are provided with knowledge enabling them to recognize ways to improve the dynamics of interactions with the elderly in a clinical setting as well as ways to improve the quality of life in aging. The session discusses demographics and definitions pertaining to the psychological, mental and spiritual changes that occur with aging within the context of their effects on treatment modalities. The course also covers treatment techniques based on assessment objectives and how to use the information to work within the team approach to optimize outcomes of care. Cathy provides examples of legal and ethical conflicts that occur with aging as well as proactive and collaborative measures in advocating for the elderly.