Online Continuing Education Courses

• Outline and describe 5 changes to the musculoskeletal system that occur with age 
• List and describe 8 benefits of exercises for healthy aging 
• Discuss the benefits of different types of exercise for various older adult-specific conditions 
• Describe 5 evidence and community-based exercise programs for community-dwelling older adults 
• Describe 5 evidenced-based exercise programs that are either home-based or designed for more frail older adults

Part I: Reducing Frailty to Promote Healthy Aging

• Identify the 3 components of frailty 
• List 5 criteria and describe the progression of frailty 
• Describe the pathophysiology of frailty along with 3 complications of frailty 
• Identify 3 screening tools for frailty 
• List and describe 5 tips for reducing frailty

Part II: Heathy Aging Across the Stages of Old Age

• Become familiar and describe definitions of healthy aging
• Describe key components of 3 different models of healthy aging including: the biomedical, psychosocial, multidimensional 
• List and describe 5 healthy goals of healthy aging across the stages of old age
• Discuss what will be needed moving forward in order to promote and support healthy aging across the lifespan
• List 5 specific areas being used for future discussion of healthy aging as described by the National Prevention Council on Healthy Aging Strategies

• Describe PTSD Describe the impact that acute trauma has on older adults 
• Outline and describe 5 types of traumatic events 
• List and describe 5 outcomes that are associated with PTSD in the elderly 
• Summarize 2 treatment interventions for elderly with PTSD

• Discuss the increasing prevalence of diabetes in older adults in the United States and elsewhere
• Describe how aging effects glucose metabolism
• Identify pathophysiologic factors in the development of Type 2 diabetes and how they are exaggerated in older adults
• Describe the screening process and recommendations for diabetes
• List the globally accepted criteria for a diagnosis of diabetes

• Discuss the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes
• Discuss 2 lifestyle modifications used to achieve glycemic targets for patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• List 5 medications used in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
• State which medication is used as the first-line pharmacotherapy
• Describe the goal-based algorithm recommended by the American Diabetes Association

• Identify and describe 3 risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in diabetes
• List 3 tests that can be used to identify cognitive dysfunction
• Describe how cognitive function negatively impacts diabetes management
• List 7 self-care behaviors identified by American Association of Diabetes Educators for creating self-management goals 
• Describe 5 interventions that an OT can do for an individual with diabetes

• Recognize and describe 5 different types of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia 
• Outline 3 causes of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and give examples of patient, caregiver and environmental factors 
• Describe nonpharmacologic or ecobiopsychosocial treatment options for persons with dementia  
• Examine how the DICE approach can help providers integrate prevention, assessment, and management of BPSD 
• Use the DICE approach as it relates to a case study with a person with early onset dementia

• Describe 4 neuropsychological changes that occur in depression
• Examine the results seen on neuroimaging and electrophysiological findings in the brains of individuals with depression
• Explore 4 different psychotherapies used in the treatment of depression
• Describe 5 wholistic and other nontraditional approaches used in the treatment of depression
• Describe the use of brain stimulation in the treatment of depression

• Describe the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder in the elderly population
• Define and differentiate different types of anxiety including social anxiety, panic disorders and specific phobias such as fear of falling
• Discuss anxiety disorder and how it effects special populations
• Compare and contrast late-life anxiety treatments
• Explore and analyze 3 clinical care innovations including primary care, home care, mindfulness-based interventions and electronic delivery options

• Describe the significance of depression and cardiovascular disease in the elderly
• Examine how depression can be diagnosed in elderly patients with CVD
• Describe the pathomechanics underlying depression and CVD 
• List 3 interventions for treating elderly with depression and CVD 
• Differentiate 5 key features between and early-onset and late-onset depression

• List and describe the 3 behavioral problems in people with dementia including apathy, agitation, and rejection of care/aggression
• Describe and differentiate agitation vs. rejection of care/aggression and list 1 key factor in symptom management of each condition
• List and describe 2 nonpharmacologic interventions that can be used in managing behavioral symptoms in people with dementia
• List 10 problematic behaviors that are commonly evaluated using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory scale
• List 3 other conditions that include apathy as a feature or characteristic

• Outline and describe the 4 categories for fall risk factors defined by the World Health Organization, including; biologic, behavioral, environmental, and socioeconomic
• Identify the 3 questions that should be asked of patients about fall history
• Outline 3 fall prevention interventions or areas of assessment
• Compare and contrast 4 evidence-based, community-based programs: A Matter of Balance, Otega Exercise Program, Stepping On and Tai Chi Describe important behavioral aspects of fall prevention
• Describe important behavioral aspects of fall prevention

• Become familiar with the epidemiology of lung cancer in the elderly and describe 2 risks and age-related disparities in lung cancer
• Define and differentiate local therapy vs. systemic therapy and give an example of each.
• Define and describe the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)
• Describe local treatment strategies including; surgical resection, radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation
• Describe systemic treatment strategies including; adjuvant chemotherapy, locally advanced disease, advanced disease, small cell lung cancer, immunotherapy and targeted therapies for actionable mutations

• Outline and describe 5 mechanisms of dyspnea including; sensory receptors, afferent impulses, integration and processing within the central nervous system, psychological factors and neuromodulation
• Analyze 4 unique descriptors of dyspnea in the elderly including prevalence, impact, respiratory sensation and dyspnea during exercise
• Describe a comprehensive approach for assessment of the elderly individual with dyspnea
• List and describe 5 strategies used to relieve dyspnea
• Describe the role of acupuncture as an emerging treatment for dyspnea

• List and describe 3 changes in lung structure associated with aging
• List and describe 3 changes in extrapulmonary structure
• Analyze 3 changes in respiratory mechanics that occur with aging and lead to predictable changes in lung function
• Describe changes in gas exchange that occur with aging
• Outline and describe the use of 2 lung function tests used in the elderly
• Describe the synergistic effect of age-related changes in lung structure and function on lung disease

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Geriatrics 237 through Geriatrics 240

• Describe two different criteria used to determine the prevalence of COPD
• List three factors that will contribute to the increased prevalence of COPD
• List and describe three physiologic changes that occur in the lung
• Describe 3 clinical symptoms associated with COPD and describe diagnosis including lung function tests and the use of chest CT scans
• Outline and examine 3 interventions commonly used in the management and treatment of COPD
• Describe the significance and goals of a pulmonary rehabilitation program

• Outline  features of neuromuscular disorders according to location
• Outline  features of peripheral neuropathies including diabetic neuropathy
• Become familiar with neurogenic claudication and spinal stenosis
• Describe inflammatory myopathy
• Review and differentiate endocrine and metabolic myopathies

• Outline and describe the classification of movement disorders
• List and describe the clinical features of Parkinson's Disease
• List 10 causes of Parkinson's Disease
• Describe the neuropathology of Parkinson's Disease
• List 5 drugs used to treat motor impairments in Parkinson's Disease
• Become familiar with hyperkinetic movement disorders
• Outline  features of neuromuscular disorders according to location
• Outline  features of peripheral neuropathies including diabetic neuropathy
• Become familiar with neurogenic claudication and spinal stenosis
• Describe inflammatory myopathy
• Review and differentiate endocrine and metabolic myopathies

• Outline and describe the classification of movement disorders
• List and describe the clinical features of Parkinson's Disease
• List 10 causes of Parkinson's Disease
• Describe the neuropathology of Parkinson's Disease
• List 5 drugs used to treat motor impairments in Parkinson's Disease
• Become familiar with hyperkinetic movement disorders

• Describe the pathology and mechanisms of Alzheimer's
• Describe the genetics of Alzheimer's
• Outline clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's
• Describe components of a clinical evaluation for Alzheimer's
• Review treatment for Alzheimer's
• List behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's

• Describe diagnostic criteria in the presentation of dementia
• Describe aspects of cognition, ADL and behavior affected by dementia
• Become familiar with differential diagnosis for dementia
• Outline the management of dementia including pharmacologic and non drug therapies
• Review arguments for and against disclosure of a diagnosis of dementia

• Review and define definitions of dementia
• List 3 risk factors for dementia
• Become familiar with other disorders associated with dementia
• Describe clinical features in differential diagnosis of dementia
• Identify 3 key points of dementia

• Become familiar with the incidence and epidemiology of COPD in the elderly
• Describe the pathogenesis of COPD
• Become familiar with medications used to treat asthma
• Outline management techniques for the treatment of asthma
• Examine and compare differential diagnosis of asthma and COPD

• Become familiar with the epidemiology of hypertension
• Describe the pathogenesis associated with hypertension
• List 5 risk factors for hypertension
• Outline 5 complications of hypertension
• Describe the management and treatment of hypertension

• Describe the clinical manifestations of CAD
• Outline and describe 5 techniques for diagnosis CAD
• List 5 risk factors for CAD
• Outline the protocol for therapy for stable angina
• Become familiar with acute coronary syndromes

• Describe attention and processing speed as it relates to aging
• Describe age-related changes that occur in short term and long term memory
• Become familiar with 1 method for evaluating executive functions
• List lifestyle factors associated with aging and describe how they may be affected
• Compare and describe how social activities and health factors are effected by cognitive aging

• Outline 3 functions of the musculoskeletal system
• List 5 changes that occur with aging in articular cartilage
• List 5 changes that occur with aging in the skeleton including structural and metabolic changes
• List 3 changes that occur with aging in soft tissue
• Examine and list 5 consequences of bone and joint aging

• List 3 changes in the vascular structure that occur with age
• Discuss the endothelial function in aging
• Outline 5 effects of aging on the structure of the heart
• Describe the response of the aging heart on exercise
• Describe and analyze myocardial function in the aging heart at rest

• Breakdown the biomechanical processes of spinal degeneration
• Explain the biochemical processes that occur in the geriatric population in 
• Differentiate between various diagnosis of structural and chemical conditions seen in geriatric patients
• Analyze the radiological findings and how they influence clinical decisions
• Explain Syndrome X and how it affects physiology
• Differentiate trauma and its late effects on the body

• Describe the evidence for Pilates based exercise to enhance balance for seniors 
• Name the global/local core stabilizers and their function 
• Describe 2 Pilates based seated exercises and their goals 
• Describe 2 Pilates based standing exercises and their goals 
• Name 3 Pilates principles Describe the 3 systems integral to balance