Caring for Dementia Patients

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 65seconds. 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 activities of daily living (ADLs). This course is designed for therapists and healthcare professionals so that they may improve outcomes, safety, andquality of life for individuals and their caregivers living with dementia.

This course will teach functional and evidence-basedtechniques, 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.

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologists

Highlights

• Improve your knowledge of the physical and cognitive implications of dementia in order to more effectively implement evidence-based treatment approaches
• Use evidence-based treatment approaches to increase participation in daily routines and therapy activities to improvepatient safety and prevent functional decline
• Acquire knowledge of the effects of dementia on families and caregivers, and discover practical ways to provide training and education to family and caregivers