Certificate in Gerontology

25.0 Contact Hours
Target Audience: Nurses, healthcare professionals, and interested individuals
Purpose/Goal: The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe topics in gerontology including Alzheimer’s Disease, death and dying, elder abuse, healthy aging, mental health, sleep disorders, and pain management.
$150.00
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Courses in this Certificate

Aging and Disorders of Communication
2.1 Contact Hours
Communication links all human beings together. As individuals age, their ability to perceive information through their senses is often distorted or impaired. Age-related sensory changes impact the quality of life and the quality of communication. Age-related sensory changes impact the quality of life and the quality of communication. Aging adults must compensate for these changes and families must be sensitive to the often silent process of sensory deterioration in their aging family member.
Alzheimers Disease: Mysteries and Possibilities
4.0 Contact Hours
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition in which the concept of loss is central—the loss of one’s memories, independence, the ability to recognize loved ones, and the loss of dignity. Often referred to as “the long goodbye,” AD is the most common type of dementia, affecting millions of Americans. It is responsible for billions of dollars annually in health care costs. However, new research is providing hope for those with Alzheimer’s disease as well as for their families and caregivers.
Death and Dying
1.5 Contact Hours
What is grief? What are normal grief responses? What is involved in the final life transition--death? These are some of the questions that will be discussed in this course. The role of culture, palliative and hospice care, advance directives, and the role of spirituality in death and dying will be described. Interactions, healing strategies, and rituals that use the senses and bring comfort and peace for the dying will also be explored.
Elder Abuse
2.0 Contact Hours
Older adults today are vibrant, independent, living longer, and in better health than their ancestors. However, as this growing population increases, so does the issue of caring for elderly individuals. Caregivers must often cope with stressful economic and personal burdens when caring for the elderly who pay the price for this stress and may be abused, exploited, or neglected.
Healthy Aging
2.1 Contact Hours
As the number of people age 65 and older increases in the United States and the world, we are faced with challenges and opportunities in every aspect of our society. Policymakers, businesses, healthcare providers, and families must make new decisions that will meet the needs of our aging population. Aging individuals have the opportunity to live a longer and healthier life than ever before, bringing adventure and optimism to the later years. A diverse aging population, alternative methods of health care, nutrition, physical activity, spiritual growth, social activity, lifelong learning, leisure pursuits, second and third careers, and volunteerism are important factors in healthy aging.
Introduction to Gerontology
2.4 Contact Hours
Opportunities are unlimited for the individual who knows the field of gerontology. Demographic changes and changes in health care have influenced the development of a variety of roles in this field. This course will provide a broad overview of the field of gerontology and discuss the characteristics of older adults, the sociology of aging, theories of aging, stereotypes and ageism, physiological and psychological changes of aging, mental health, wellness and aging, and complementary and alternative health care methods that may benefit the older adult.
Mental Health and Aging
2.0 Contact Hours
The enormous increase in the diverse elderly population has prompted a vital societal challenge: the design and delivery of mental health services to the older adult. Because the elderly population in the United States and globally is projected to grow rapidly, the need for geriatric mental health services will also increase dramatically. Continued intellectual, social, and physical activity throughout the life cycle are important for the maintenance of mental health in later life. This course explores the issues of mental wellness strategies for the aging adult, cultural diversity as it relates to mental health, and traditional as well as integrative therapies to support mental health in the aging population.
Pain Assessment and Management in the Older Adult
2.2 Contact Hours
Pain is a symptom that signals distress in virtually every population and every age. To provide quality care to aging adults, healthcare providers must be particularly skilled at assessing pain, understanding misconceptions of pain management, addressing cultural issues in pain management, and providing effective pain therapies. This course provides an overview of pain and its effective management, including cultural considerations and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management techniques.
Physiology of Aging
2.4 Contact Hours
There are more older adults in the United States than ever before in history, making this segment one of the fastest-growing portions of the population. The appropriate care of older adults requires healthcare providers to have a solid understanding of the physiologic changes that accompany aging. This course explores aging, reviews the theories of aging, and examine the physical changes in body systems associated with aging.
Sleep and Aging
2.1 Contact Hours
Sleep is essential to a healthy, productive life. While sleep disorders and changes affect all of us as we age, older adults undergo many sleep-related changes that can affect their physical and psychological well-being. This course presents a review of the normal stages of sleep, describes common sleep measurement tools, discusses sleep characteristics, identifies the changes that affect the quality and quantity of sleep as an individual ages, and identifies methods the health care provider can use to assess and assist clients with sleep changes as they age.
The Older Woman
2.1 Contact Hours
America is growing older and most older Americans are women. Today's older woman is part of a diverse group that varies in income, education level, health, functional abilities, living arrangements, and access to support services. Because women live longer than men, they face unique economic, social, and health challenges. This course provides an overview of demographic trends related to the older woman and examines key challenges faced by aging women.

Description

The Certificate in Gerontology represents a specialization in the field of gerontology. It is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of individuals who work with or care for older adults by providing an educational experience that is multidisciplinary in nature. The demand for knowledgeable providers to meet the needs of this population is dramatically increasing, new jobs are being developed, and new services created. Individuals who work with the older population will need continuing professional education to gain a broad understanding of the field of gerontology and healthy aging and to stay current with emerging trends such as mental health, abuse, pain assessment and management, sleep, disorders of communication, and dementias (including Alzheimer's disease).

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to do the following:

  • Describe aging and disorders of communication.
  • Discuss the symptoms, treatment, and caregiver issues of Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • Identify the psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of death and dying.
  • Examine healing strategies that can assist in the spiritual care of the dying.
  • Describe the causes and types of elder abuse and action steps to prevent elder abuse.
  • Describe healthy aging as it relates to cultural similarities and differences, complementary and alternative medicine, nutritional concerns, physical activity, fall prevention, sleep issues, sexuality concerns, social activities, and spirituality.
  • Discuss the grieving process and grief reactions.
  • Describe elements for working with and caring for aging adults.
  • Identify the most commonly occurring mental health issues and factors related to mental health wellness.
  • Examine the theories of aging and the physical changes in body systems associated with aging.
  • Describe the normal stages of sleep, sleep characteristics, sleep disorders, and the changes that affect the quality and quantity of sleep.
  • Examine key challenges faced by aging women, including economic concerns, care giving, housing and living arrangements, and special health and lifestyle concerns.

Criteria for successful completion

Complete the course post exam (CE Test) with a score of 80% or greater. Complete all fields of the course evaluation form. Certificate of Completion is provided once all of the courses within the certificate program have been successfully completed per criteria above.

Accredited By

  • American Board of Managed Care Nursing
  • AOTA - American Occupational Therapy Association
  • California Board of Registered Nursing
  • California Department of Health, Aid, and Technician Certification Section
  • District of Columbia Board of Nursing
  • Florida Board of Nursing
  • Florida Board of Nursing - Certified Nursing Assistants
  • Florida Board of Respiratory Care
  • Florida Council of Dietetics and Nutrition
  • Florida Council of Licensed Midwifery
  • ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center
  • NAADAC - The National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
  • ASWB - Association of Social Work Boards

Occupational Therapist Info

AOTA CEUs:

2.5

Practice Level:

Intermediate

Content Focus:

Occupational Therapy Process

Other Details

Course Expires:

March 18, 2021

Instructor(s):
  • Cyndie Koopsen, RN, BSN, MBA, HNB-BC, RN-BC, HWNC-BC
  • Caroline Young, MPH
Jurisdictional Requirements:

Continuing education (CE) licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction, are not well defined, and may change. These CE requirements may vary in terms of the number of hours required to the types of courses that must be taken. ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC recommends you contact your licensing board or accrediting organization for the latest continuing education requirements of your state or territory. Compliance with CE requirements is the responsibility of the individual health care provider. Health care providers must understand the CE requirements in their jurisdictions, and be sure they are up-to-date on any rule changes that affect their license. For further information, please see our Accreditation Information.

Accommodations for Disabilities:

Every effort will be made to accommodate your special needs. To request accommodations, please contact us.

Conflicts of Interest and Relevant Financial Relationships:

The authors/planning committee members have no conflicts of interests or relevant financial relationships to declare relevant to this activity.

Commercial Support:

No commercial support has been received for this activity.

Non-endorsement of products:

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing nursing education only and does not imply ALLEGRA Learning Solutions, LLC approval or endorsement of any commercial product.

Off-label Use of Products:

None of the authors intend to discuss off-label uses of drugs, mechanical devices, biologics, or diagnostics not approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

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