THE GERIATRIC PATIENTS HEALTH ISSUES .. DENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

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 psycho social 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; nutritional regimens which will be a major point of this lecture *Demonstrate an understanding of 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" vs. disease at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organisms levels, and the role of failure of homeostatic mechanisms; anatomic and histological 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 Description: *Geriatric syndromes and conditions: Risk Factors, Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Differential Diagnoses *Treatment strategies-Preventive strategies: *Pathophysiology in common diseases of the elderly; Role of cerebral cortex and Alzheimer's and other Dementia *Demography, physiology & epidemiology of aging: Cellular level, Normal aging vs. disease-molecular and Pharma of aging *Nutrition and aging: Nutritional regimens, Negate effects of aging or improve disease symptoms *Psycho-social issues of aging: Role of seniors in society, Changing perceptions, Language of aging, Retirement, Anxiety *Sexuality and aging, Under-reporting of symptoms/illness, Elder abuse or neglect, Home safety, Community resources *Anti-oxidation * Use of oils for cardiac health * Alternate living arrangements and adaptation to them