Therapists Rehabilitation Strategies for Dementia Patients

Description

Dementia is a broad term for a decline in mental ability that is significant enough to interfere with a person's daily life. Over 5 million Americans are living with dementia; someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's disease every 65 seconds. This number is expected to double by 2030, and triple by 2050. Since there is no cure for dementia, this disease results in a progressive decline of cognitive and functional skills. Many individuals with dementia also experience behavioral changes, decreased safety awareness, difficulty eating/swallowing, and decreased independence completing ADLs. This course is designed for therapists and healthcare professionals so that they may improve outcomes, safety, and quality of life for individuals and their caregivers living with dementia.

This course will facilitate learning about functional and evidence-based techniques, interventions, and education/training strategies. Participants will learn about assessments and screening tools which may be used at all stages of progressive cognitive decline, and how to use those tools to develop individualized treatment plans. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary treatment, documentation challenges, improving patient safety, and caregiver education.

Highlights

• Types of dementia and the neuroscience behind them
• Confidently examine physical and cognitive implications of dementia in order to more effectively implement evidence-based treatment approaches
• Develop functional treatment plans for those with dementia that will address fall prevention, mobility, feeding/swallowing, challenging behaviors and home safety
• Evidence-based treatment approaches to increase participation in daily routines and therapy activities to improve patient safety and prevent functional decline
• Discover practical ways to provide training and education to family and caregivers

Learning Objectives

1. Describe neuroanatomy and neuroscience involved with various types of dementia and other cognitive changes.
2. Determine appropriate screening and assessment tools to assess levels of cognitive functioning; more accurately determine the difference between MCI and dementia.
3. Choose appropriate evidence-based interventions to design functional treatment plans that improve patient participation and increase overall safety.
4. Compose measurable goals that allow for documentation of patient outcomes.
5. Apply knowledge of the functional and cognitive effects of dementia to design interdisciplinary treatment approaches.
6. Provide effective and functional training to families and caregivers.

Course Content