What Your Clients Should Know About Aging

aging

It is well known that exercise, in general, helps combat the aging process. However, do we know which forms of exercise are most beneficial?

New research done by German center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, Germany shows we may not.

Recruiting elderly volunteers with an average age of 68, researchers assigned them to an eighteen-month weekly course of either learning dance routines, or endurance and flexibility training. After assessing participants at the end of the study, Dr. Kathrin Rehfeld, the lead author and her colleagues found what we might expect: both forms of exercise produced increases in the area of the brain that declines with age (hippocampus). However, it was only dancing that led to noticeable behavioral changes – in the form of improved balance (Rehfeld et al., 2017).

Another study done by Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that we may also underestimate the protective effects of a healthy gut microbiome.

Through slowing down the progression of tumors and the accumulation of amyloid-beta – a compound associated with Alzheimer’s disease – and increasing the production of the polysaccharide colanic acid, the promotion of a healthy gut bacteria associated was shown to have also protective effects against aging (Han et al., 2017).

What studies like this tell us is that there are a variety of things that we may not fully understand about aging, and likely, many helpful interventions.

But where do we start? What is considered normal as we age, and what requires medical or psychological evaluation?

There are actually clear and identifiable physical and psychosocial changes that affect people as they age, and can be addressed by a clinician who is educated and experienced with the aging population. Moreover, there are evidence-based strategies clinicians can use to assist older persons in the clinic or office as well as specific techniques to communicate effectively when sensory deficits are present in older adults.

Lastly, ensuring the highest level of functioning as clients age depends on a clinician who fully understands, and can help the client navigate, the continuum of care. All of this begins with a clinician who understands the challenges of aging – and perhaps more importantly, how to address and overcome them.

Related Online Continuing Education (CE) Courses:

Aging: Challenges for CliniciansAging: Challenges for Clinicians is a 3-hour online continuing education (CE) course that provides a review of the aging process, illustrating potential challenges and effective solutions. Americans are living longer and there are proportionately more older adults than in previous generations due to the post-World War II baby boom. Many Americans are now living into their eighties and beyond. In healthcare, the volume of older people may soon outnumber the supply of healthcare professionals trained in geriatrics. Aging presents many challenges for people as they encounter new physical and psychosocial issues. It is vital for healthcare professionals to be familiar with the challenges of aging in order to effectively treat the aging population. This course will provide information on the normal process of aging, and point out problems commonly thought to be normal that require medical or psychological evaluation and treatment. Case examples will illustrate scenarios of aging persons who may be at risk but are not aware there is a problem. Use this information for referral as appropriate to ensure the highest level of functioning for your patients. Course #31-01 | 2017 | 54 pages | 20 posttest questions

Biology of AgingBiology of Aging: Research Today for a Healthier Tomorrow is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that reviews the research on aging and provides insight into where the science is heading. What is aging? Can we live long and live well—and are they the same thing? Is aging in our genes? How does our metabolism relate to aging? Can your immune system still defend you as you age? Since the National Institute on Aging was established in 1974, scientists asking just such questions have learned a great deal about the processes associated with the biology of aging. Technology today supports research that years ago would have seemed possible only in a science fiction novel. This course introduces some key areas of research into the biology of aging. Each area is a part of a larger field of scientific inquiry. You can look at each topic individually, or you can step back to see how they fit together, interwoven to help us better understand aging processes. Research on aging is dynamic, constantly evolving based on new discoveries, and so this course also looks ahead to the future, as today’s research provides the strongest hints of things to come. Closeout course #20-85 | 2012 | 30 pages | 15 posttest questions

Communication with EldersCommunication with Elders is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that offers strategies for improving communication with elders with the goal of improving treatment outcomes. With the increasing number of older people in the United States, it is vital for healthcare professionals to communicate effectively and respectfully with elders. Effective, appropriate communication with elders is important for many reasons. For psychotherapists and other mental health professionals, communication is the foundation of service delivery. Communication is required for assessment of the person prior to treatment. Symptoms are, after all, subjective and must be reported by the person to the clinician. Effective communication also contributes to health literacy; the person’s understanding of her condition, treatment options, and the treatment plan to be followed. A person cannot comply with a treatment program unless the program is communicated clearly enough for the person to understand it. The more effective the communication, the more effective treatment will be – and the more cost effective. Communication also helps the clinician understand the whole person: the emotional, social, and financial realities that affect response to treatment and ability to comply. This course provides an overview of aging changes that affect communication, dysfunctional communication habits to avoid, and strategies for appropriate communication with elders. Course 20-98 | 2015 |  26 pages | 15 posttest questions

These online CE courses are provided by:

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved to sponsor continuing education by the American Psychological Association (APA); the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR); the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy; the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology & School Psychology, Dietetics & Nutrition, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Occupational Therapy Practice; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board and Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs; the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists and State Board of Social Worker Examiners; and are CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

Target Audience: PsychologistsCounselorsSocial WorkersMarriage & Family Therapist (MFTs)Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)Occupational Therapists (OTs)Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs)School Psychologists, and Teachers

Earn CE Wherever YOU Love to Be!

Communication with Elders – Updated

Communication with EldersCommunication with Elders is a newly updated 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides an overview of aging changes that affect communication, dysfunctional communication habits to avoid, and strategies for appropriate communication with elders.

Effective, appropriate communication with elders is important for many reasons. For speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists, communication is the foundation of service delivery. Communication is required for assessment of the person prior to treatment. Symptoms are, after all, subjective and must be reported by the person to the clinician. Effective communication also contributes to health literacy; the persons’ understanding of their condition, treatment options, and the treatment plan to be followed.

SLPs are ideally suited to facilitate communication with patients due to clinical expertise in communication. This expertise also makes them the leaders in educating other members of the interdisciplinary team on effective communication strategies with elders who have complex communication needs. This course will aid the SLP in improving communication with elders, and, in turn, improving their quality of life.

Course #21-17 | 2018 | 29 pages | 15 posttest questions

Click here to learn more.

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. After enrolling, click on My Account and scroll down to My Active Courses. From here you’ll see links to download/print the course materials and take the CE test (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).

Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. Click here to learn more. Have a question? Contact us. We’re here to help!

Professional Development Resources is a nonprofit educational corporation 501(c)(3) organized in 1992. We are approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHAProvider #AAUM) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology. We are also approved by the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (Provider #50-1635) and the Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and is CE Broker compliant (all courses are reported within a few days of completion).

This course is offered for .2 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level, Professional area).

ASHA credit expires 10/31/2020. ASHA CEUs are awarded by the ASHA CE Registry upon receipt of the quarterly completion report from the ASHA Approved CE Provider (#AAUM). Please note that the date that appears on ASHA transcripts is the last day of the quarter in which the course was completed. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, the Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635). AAUM #5134

Communication with Elders – New ASHA CEU Course

By Laura More, MSW, LCSW; Edie Deane-Watson, MS, CCC-A, CCM

Communication with Elders is a new 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course approved for ASHA CEUs that provides an overview of aging changes that affect communication, dysfunctional communication habits to avoid, and strategies for appropriate communication with elders.

Communication with EldersWith the increasing number of older people in the United States, it is vital for healthcare professionals to communicate effectively and respectfully with elders. Effective, appropriate communication with elders is important for many reasons. For speech-language pathologists and audiologists, communication is the foundation of service delivery. Communication is required for assessment of the person prior to treatment. Symptoms are, after all, subjective and must be reported by the person to the clinician. Effective communication also contributes to health literacy; the person’s understanding of her condition, treatment options, and the treatment plan to be followed. A person cannot comply with a treatment program unless the program is communicated clearly enough for the person to understand it. The more effective the communication, the more effective treatment will be – and the more cost effective. Communication also helps the clinician understand the whole person: the emotional, social, and financial realities that affect response to treatment and ability to comply. This course provides an overview of aging changes that affect communication, dysfunctional communication habits to avoid, and strategies for appropriate communication with elders. Course #20-95 | 2015 | 26 pages | 15 posttest questions

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. You can print the test (download test from My Courses tab of your account after purchasing) and mark your answers on while reading the course document. Then submit online when ready to receive credit.

Click here to enroll.

Professional Development Resources is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA #AAUM) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology. We will report to ASHA for you if you select yes to ASHA reporting in your account profile. Please note that the completion date that appears on ASHA transcripts is the last day of the quarter, regardless of when the course was completed. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and is CE Broker compliant (courses are reported within one week of completion)

Communication with Elders

By: Laura More, MSW, LCSW & Edie Deane-Watson, MS, CCC, CCM

With the increasing number of older people in the United States, it is vital for healthcare professionals to communicate effectively and respectfully with elders. Effective, appropriate communication with elders is important for many reasons. For psychotherapists and other healthcare professionals, communication is the foundation of service delivery. Communication is required for assessment of the person prior to treatment. Symptoms are, after all, subjective and must be reported by the person to the clinician. Effective communication also contributes to health literacy; the person’s understanding of her condition, treatment options, and the treatment plan to be followed. A person cannot comply with a treatment program unless the program is communicated clearly enough for the person to understand it. The more effective the communication, the more effective treatment will be – and the more cost effective. Communication also helps the clinician understand the whole person: the emotional, social, and financial realities that affect response to treatment and ability to comply.

Communication with EldersCommunication with Elders is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that provides an overview of aging changes that affect communication, dysfunctional communication habits to avoid, and strategies for appropriate communication with elders. 2015 | 26 pages | 15 posttest questions


This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. You can print the test (download test from My Courses tab of your account after purchasing) and mark your answers on while reading the course document. Then submit online when ready to receive credit.

CE Information:
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists; the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB Provider #1046, ACE Program); the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA Provider #3159); the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR Provider #PR001); the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (#PCE1625); the Florida Boards of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy (#BAP346), Psychology & School Psychology (#50-1635), Dietetics & Nutrition (#50-1635), and Occupational Therapy Practice (#34); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & MFT Board (#RCST100501); the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors & MFTs (#193); and the Texas Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists (#114) and State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678).
About the Authors:
Laura More, MSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and healthcare author. She earned her Masters of Social Work from Florida State University and has over twenty years of healthcare experience, with a focus on geriatric and head injury rehabilitation. Laura has directed case management, social service, and rehabilitation in skilled nursing, outpatient and inpatient hospital settings. She has managed long-term care rehabilitation from facility, area, and regional positions, with a strong emphasis on training and education of staff and client caregivers in the provision of care for geriatric patients in skilled nursing facilities. Laura was one of the founding partners of Care2Learn, a provider of online continuing education courses for the post-acute healthcare industry. She has authored or edited over 120 online continuing education titles, co-authored evidence-based care assessment area resources and a book, The Licensed Practical Nurse in Long-term Care Field Guide. She is the recipient of the 2010 Education Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators.
Edie Deane-Watson, MS, CCC, CCM, has served in the post-acute care industry in various capacities for 25 years. She developed and managed SNF based rehabilitation programs at the facility and regional level and was one of the founding partners of Care2Learn, a provider of online continuing education courses for the post-acute healthcare industry. In addition, she has worked in acute care, head injury, life care planning, and e-learning. She is currently the Director of Education and Training at American Health Tech, a leading provider of post-acute care integrated software.

Communication with Elders – New Online CE Course for OTs

By Laura More, MSW, LCSW and Edie Deane-Watson, MS, CCC, CCM

Communication with EldersCommunication with Elders is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course for Occupational Therapists (OTs) that provides an overview of aging changes that affect communication, dysfunctional communication habits to avoid, and strategies for appropriate communication with elders. Course #20-96 | 2015 | 26 pages | 15 posttest questions

The Administration on Aging (2011) projects that the number of people over the age of 65 will double by the year 2030, when elders will represent almost 20% of the population in the United States. The aging of America is due to a shift in mortality from acute diseases to chronic, degenerative illnesses. An elder today is more likely to die of a chronic cardiac condition, for example, than acute pneumonia. Two-thirds of elders have multiple chronic medical conditions (CDC, 2013). Many elders have complex communication needs as a result of cognitive, motor, or sensory barriers. These barriers must be understood in order to facilitate communication, especially in medical settings where communication is vital for treatment (Downey & Happ, 2013).

Effective, appropriate communication with elders is important for many reasons. For occupational therapists, communication is the foundation of service delivery. Communication is required for assessment of the person prior to treatment. Symptoms are, after all, subjective and must be reported by the person to the clinician. Effective communication also contributes to health literacy; the person’s understanding of her condition, treatment options, and the treatment plan to be followed. A person cannot comply with a treatment program unless the program is communicated clearly enough for the person to understand it. The more effective the communication, the more effective treatment will be – and the more cost effective. Communication also helps the clinician understand the whole person: the emotional, social, and financial realities that affect response to treatment and ability to comply. This is the basis for a therapeutic partnership that supports the person and his family (Lubinski, 2010).

Research shows that effective interpersonal communication has a significant impact on patient satisfaction in healthcare (Power, 2012). Wilner and Feinstein-Whittaker (2013) strongly state, “All medical professionals must speak with clarity, effectiveness, credibility, confidence, and compassion.” However, communication with elders includes not just the identified patient, but also often a caregiver. This may be a spouse or an adult child. Since elders are living longer, the adult child accompanying the elder may be an elder herself. A review of caregiver “companion” studies revealed that companions regularly attended medical appointments. Companions could be helpful by providing informational support but could also be challenging when dominating the appointment (Laidsaar-Powerll, 2013). It is important to be aware of the communication dynamic during three-way communication in order to assure the elder is heard and important issues are addressed.

This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. Successful completion of the online CE test (80% required to pass, 3 chances to take) and course evaluation are required to earn a certificate of completion. You can print the test (download test from My Courses tab of your account after purchasing) and mark your answers on while reading the course document. Then submit online when ready to receive credit. Enroll now.

CE INFORMATION

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Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education (#3159). OT Content Focus – Domain of OT: Client Factors and Mental Function; OT Process: Intervention. This program is offered for 0.2 CEU’s. The assignment of AOTA CEU’s does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Florida Board of OT Practice (#34). Participant successfully completed the required assessment component for this activity.