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DAY ONE

1. Identify the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
2. List appropriate diagnostic tests to achieve accurate diagnosis.
3. Devise interventions that are effective and promote positive communication between staff, family & the older adult.
4. Apply techniques and identify strategies to avoid adverse drug events and drug disease interactions.
5. Develop individualized monitoring plans for geriatric patients through the evaluation of high risk medications.
6. Identify at least three new guideline recommendations related to geriatric pharmacology.
7. Implement controlled substance/pain management contracts into practice.
8. Recognize symptoms of controlled substance and alcohol misuse and abuse.
9. Describe best practice methods for prescribing in the geriatric population.

DAY TWO

1. Review strategies to diminish the occurrence of behavioral problems in individuals with dementia.
2. Discuss behavioral and environmental techniques to diminish challenging behavioral problems.
3. Identify how cognitive impairment in older individuals is affected by environment, caregiver schedules, and responses to the behaviors.
4. Develop strategies to identify abuse and neglect.
5. Distinguish etiologic and pathologic factors associated with neurological, orthopedic, abdominal, cardiovascular & pulmonary emergencies.
6. Discuss the atypical presentation of the elderly and how to effectively manage comorbidities.
7. Discuss how to apply age-sensitive principles for medication dosing and management to clinical scenarios.
8. List key questions useful for identifying and managing polypharmacy in older adults.

DAY ONE

SESSION 1: DIFFERENTIATING DEMENTIAS

Distinguishing the various types of dementia is often difficult. This session provides tools to appropriately screen patients experiencing dementia, along with discussion of the most effective interventions to improve the care you provide.

• Normal vs. Abnormal Aging
• Types of Dementias
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Parkinson's Disease Dementia
• Substance-Induced Neurocognitive Disorder
• Pharmacological Management

SESSION 2: GERIATRIC PHARMACOLOGY: TOOLS FOR THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL

For geriatric patients taking more than five medications, the statistical chance of a drug drug interaction or adverse event is 100%! For those experiencing an adverse drug event, one third will require additional treatment. This session will provide straightforward tools that will help you care for older adults receiving multiple medications.

• Drug Utilization Amongst the Elderly
• Billing Codes That You MUST Know
• Clinical Pharmacological Issues in the Elderly

SESSION 3: PAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE ELDERLY

This presentation will review the different categories of controlled substances and their appropriate use in the geriatric patient. Explore special considerations and tools to aid in prescribing and managing pain in the geriatric patient.

• The Challenges Associated with Controlled Substances
• Pain Control... Is every patient's RIGHT

DAY TWO

SESSION 1: MANAGING GERIATRIC BEHAVIORS: WANDERING, AGGRESSION, MALNUTRITION AND MORE

Behaviors such as wandering, aggression and anxiety can pose significant barriers to the delivery of essential care. Geriatric syndromes such as malnutrition, dehydration and insomnia can diminish quality of life and threaten independence. This session will explore the most frequent problematic behaviors and discuss strategies to improve the care you provide to your geriatric patients.

• Wandering
• Physical Aggression
• Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
• Eating Issues & Nutrition in Elders with Dementia
• Sleepless Nights & Sundowning
• Professional Issues

SESSION 2: GERIATRIC EMERGENCIES

A high-energy, dynamic session filled with interesting case studies, insightful discussions and interactive learning. You will leave with practical techniques that you can apply right away -- if you work with geriatric patients, you don't want to miss this!

• Physiological Changes with Aging
• Common Underlying Chronic Illness
• Cardiovascular Emergencies
• Pulmonary Emergencies
• Cerebrovascular Emergencies
• Orthopedic Emergencies
• Abdominal Emergencies

SESSION 3: TOP TEN MEDICATIONS TO AVOID IN THE GERIATRIC PATIENT

Explore medication dosing guidelines and polypharmacy management principles to ensure safe prescribing in the geriatric patient. Review the top ten medications to avoid and alternatives that can be equally effective.

• The BEERS List
• Risks Associated with Anticholinergic Drugs
• The TOP TEN
• 5 Things Patients &Physicians Should Question

Steven Atkinson, PA-C, MS, is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in geriatric internal medicine. He practices medicine in the greater Minneapolis area. In addition to his private practice, he has been on the faculty at the University of Utah since 1994 and has been involved in medicine for over 30 years.

Steven is the co-founder of Twin Cities Physicians, which serves older adults in nearly all levels of their care. He has presented nationally for over 15 years, primarily speaking about geriatric-related syndromes.

Steven is the author of Geriatric Pharmacology: The Principals of Practice & Clinical Recommendations, Second Edition and also sits on several boards whose purpose is to elevate the level of care in medicine for the patients they serve. Steven has been described as a "dynamic" educator and one of the most engaging presenters around.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Steven Atkinson is the founder and co-owner of Twin Cities Physicians and Midwest Geriatrics Services, and he is the owner of Mindful Geriatrics, LLC. He provides legal counseling services to medical professionals and receives compensation. Mr. Atkinson receives a fee for course development from Executive Links. He is adjunct faculty at the University of Utah. Mr. Atkinson receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He owns stocks/shares in Moderna, Inc and was a previous stock/shares owner in Lilly. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Steven Atkinson is a member of the board for MDMA. He is a member of AMDA/PALTC, GMPA, and others. For a complete list, please contact info@pesi.com.

Save time and $10 off the price of other submission methods – purchase & take the CE test online for $19.99 USD per participant. Additional processing fees apply for other submission methods (i.e. mail, fax, etc.). Please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details.

Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations.

Certificates of Successful Completion are available for email, download and/or printing from your online account immediately following the successful completion of the post-test/evaluation.

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.

Nurses, Occupational Therapists & Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists/Physical Therapist Assistants, Physician Assistants, Social Workers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and other Healthcare Professionals