Online Geriatric Continuing Education Courses Physical Therapy
Physical therapy CEU courses focused on the aging population.
CEU360 offers a wide selection of geriatric physical therapy continuing education courses and compliance training courses via a robust learning management system.
Geriatrics, health care concerned with the aging, is a rapidly growing specialty in physical therapy. As the number of elderly people in the U.S. increases (baby boomer generation), the job growth projections for geriatric physical therapists has also increased. PTs and PTAs who work with elderly patients need a special skill set:
- Excellent communication skills
- Physical fitness (able to move adult patients)
- Good organizational skills
- Understanding of geriatric pharmacology
- Able to demonstrate patience and empathy
The Role of a Geriatric PT
Originally defined as a medical specialty in 1989, "geriatric physical therapy" focuses on older adults with varied medical conditions that are commonly treated through physical therapy:
- Orthopedics (hip/ joint replacements, etc.)
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Alzheimer's disease and dementia
- Parkinson's
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart failure
- Stroke
- Cancer
In addition, safety is a primary concern for the geriatric PT and PTA.
"Falling is one of the greatest risks older adults face, often leading to events such as hip fractures, which then lead to a downward health spiral. In fact, falling is such an issue among older adults that the CDC has reported that one-third of all people over the age of 65 fall every year, making falls the leading cause of injury among people from this age group. Most of the people who experience a hip fracture stay in the hospital for a minimum of one week, with approximately 20% dying within a year due to the injury. Unfortunately, a number of the remaining 80% do not return to their previous level of functioning."[1]
Goals of Geriatric Physical Therapy
The number one goal of the geriatric PT is safety. Thus, geriatric physical therapy will involve techniques that improve balance, strength, and mobility. Additionally, the geriatric therapist will help older adults remain strong, independent and productive.
Unlimited PT Continuing education and PTA Continuing Education:
CEU360 offers a vast selection of PT CEUs and PTA continuing education courses. With over 800 hours of elite physical therapy CEU courses including geriatric physical therapy continuing education courses and compliance training courses, your physical therapy team can have access to the most diversified, evidence-based CE library on the market. Learn more about utilizing CEU360's learning tools for your health care team.
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Geriatric Physical Therapy Continuing Education Courses
PT continuing education and PTA continuing education
CEU360 offers geriatric physical therapy continuing education courses for health care teams. If your organization provides physical therapy services (or PTA services) for the geriatric population, CEU360 is the perfect resource for your PTs and PTAs.
CEU360's PT CEU and PTA CEU Courses:
Body Weight Supported Gait Training for the Geriatric Patient
Contact Hours: 4*
Body weight supported gait training (BWSGT) has been an increasingly popular treatment modality in both research literature and the therapy clinic. While the focus of this treatment is most often in neurological rehabilitation settings, BWSGT is a useful tool in any setting where patients have less than ideal walking abilities.
This course covers the principles of BWSGT, the science behind them, and how to apply these to the geriatric population. It goes into detail on the physiologic basis by which BWSGT has its training effects and how to best use it with various patient diagnoses and impairments. The course discusses the unique needs of the geriatric patient and how BWSGT can maximize the patient's therapy outcomes while minimizing risks.
Cardiopulmonary Considerations for the Geriatric Patient
Contact Hours: 5*
The cardiopulmonary comorbidities that are present in the geriatric population greatly impact how health care professionals should treat patients, including assessment, interventions, and recommendations. In order to have an in-depth understanding of geriatric cardiopulmonary pathologies, the health care professional must also have an understanding of the cardiopulmonary anatomy, the normal aging process, and how to differentiate normal aging from pathology.
This course reviews all of these areas and discusses the most common cardiopulmonary pathologies seen in the geriatric population. The proper techniques to monitor vital signs, the use of functional assessments and the most effective documentation techniques are all explored. In addition, cardiopulmonary medications are reviewed so that the rehab professional can gain an understanding of the specific classes of drugs used for the pathologies discussed, their side effects and potential impact on rehab.
Clinical Pharmacology: Geriatric Drugs and CNS Pharmacology
Contact Hours: 5*
When a therapist is treating a patient, it's important to know what medications the patient is taking and what is the proposed result of that drug. For instance, if a patient is taking a beta blocker, the therapist should know why are they taking it and understand the effects the drug has on their patients. Someone on a beta blocker is not going to be able to work at a high level intensity, making it critical for the therapist to adjust their treatment plan accordingly.
This course introduces the basic concepts of pharmacology including drug nomenclature, administration, absorption, distribution and elimination. Therapists are provided with an in-depth exploration of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug therapy in the elderly. Anti-depressants and anti-seizure drugs and their possible effects are also discussed, as well as common drugs used to treat the Alzheimer patient.
Comorbidities and the Geriatric Rehab Patient
Contact Hours: 3*
Multiple comorbidities is common and greatly increases the complexity of managing geriatric rehab patients. In developed nations, about one in four adults have at least two chronic conditions and more than half of older adults have three or more chronic conditions. This places the geriatric patient at greater risk for adverse effects from therapy. In order to provide the most effective patient care, it is extremely important that the therapist understand the impact these comorbidities have on the patient and their rehab program.
This course summarizes the most common comorbidities affecting the geriatric rehab patient. Content includes technical & layman descriptions, common medical procedures and treatment, statistics for the American geriatric population, risk factors, causes, and symptoms of each condition. Most importantly, the co-morbidities' effect on the Rehab Process are explained. Considerations for assessment, treatment planning, progression of treatment, and discharge planning are also discussed.
Geriatric Balance and Fall Prevention: Evidence-Based Examinations and Interventions
Contact Hours: 4*
Each year, one in every three adults aged 65 and older falls. Falls can result in severe injuries, including hip fractures and head injuries, and can increase the risk of early death. Determining and treating the underlying cause of a fall can return patients to baseline function and reduce the risk of subsequent falls resulting in improved quality of life for patients and their caregivers.
In this course, Dr. Schmidt instructs the rehab professional on examinations and interventions to improve geriatric balance and fall prevention. Participants will learn to identify systems responsible for balance maintenance and be provided with strategies for Nashners postural response model of balance correction. Risk factors in aging as a result of neurological changes are identified, as well as drug types that increase the risk of falls. Dr.Schmidt also provides balance tests and activities that assist the professional in the examination and treatment of geriatric balance.
Unlimited PT Continuing education and PTA Continuing Education:
CEU360 offers a vast selection of PT CEUs and PTA continuing education courses. With over 800 hours of elite physical therapy CEU courses including geriatric physical therapy continuing education courses and compliance training courses, your physical therapy team can have access to the most diversified, evidence-based CE library on the market. Learn more about utilizing CEU360's learning tools for your health care team.
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Geriatric Physical Therapy Continuing Education Courses
PT continuing education and PTA continuing education
Geriatric Health and Quality of Life – Assessments and Indicators
Contact Hours: 3*
For the first time in American history the geriatric population is growing faster than any other demographic. Initially viewed as a trend, the growth of the senior demographic coincided with longevity, resulting in a demographic shift that has changed the face of society. Many therapeutic services will expand their home services to accommodate the senior population. In order for healthcare professional to truly meet the needs of this rapidly growing group, there must be an updated understanding and insight into the population. Done properly, this enhances both the patient and healthcare professionals experience.
When working with this population it is important to understand their lives and perspectives. No longer is a traditional medical history enough, it is now time to ask specific questions about nutrition, sleep, hydration, medication management, friendship, feelings of loneliness, and recent situational life experiences. This population has never existed before so there is a learning curve for all services.
In this course, healthcare professionals are familiarized with the type of information that needs to be obtained in order to provide the patient with the best results. Additionally, the healthcare professional learns to identify other issues in the senior's life that they may find themselves having to share with the appropriate parties.
Geriatric Intervention: An Evidence Based Musculoskeletal Approach
Contact Hours: 5*
In today's changing healthcare world it is becoming more crucial than ever for therapist to accurately assess and screen patients quickly and effectively.
This course uses the best evidence for performing lower extremity assessment techniques to differentiate potential musculoskeletal diagnosis for the lower extremities so that the participant can become more efficient while improving their standard of care. Treatment intervention strategies based on the diagnosis are then suggested for the best possible rehabilitation outcome for patients.
Geriatric Massage: Evidence Based Approach to Improve Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life
Contact Hours: 2*
As the elderly population grows, there is an increasing need for skilled hands-on care to address the challenges of aging. Therapeutic massage has proven to be beneficial in reducing some of the symptoms of medical conditions associated with aging, and improving quality of life in the golden years.
This course discusses age-related changes in health and physiology. Intervention approaches for specific problems such as circulatory deficits, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, balance issues, and chronic pain are discussed. A review of the evidence indicating the efficacy of therapeutic massage for common health conditions in seniors is presented. Evidence reveals how therapeutic massage may be readily implemented as part of a treatment program to achieve better functional outcomes in elderly patients.
Geriatric Seating
Contact Hours: 2*
The geriatric population often faces challenges with proper seating due to the effects of aging These can result in many issues, including musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, immunological, cognition and communication changes. They can also result in pain. In order to address these issues, therapists must identify common causes before determining the most effective solution.
This course focuses on special considerations, clinical indicators, and common diagnosis of seating intervention in the elderly population. Clinicians are instructed on general principles of seating and common diagnoses and comorbid conditions in the geriatric population. They are taught to identify various postural abnormalities along with causes and effects due to seated positioning and explain when a restraint may be used as per OBRA Regulations.
Improving Geriatric Rehab Outcomes with Functional Assessments
Contact Hours: 4*
In the ever-changing health care world, it is important that therapists keep up with the pace! Insurance companies are moving toward "pay for performance" or "outcome based" systems. This requires therapists to provide the highest quality of care and ensure them clearly and objectively document their patient's progress in order to prove the efficacy of their treatment. Standardized Assessments allow therapists to clearly show the patient's progress and compare discharge status to initial status.
This course explains the role and importance of Standardized Assessments in the geriatric population. A variety of tests are discussed, demonstrated, and applied to the "real world" treatment setting. After completing this course, the therapist should be able to select the most appropriate test(s) based on the patient's primary deficits, perform the test, and interpret the results. In addition, the therapist should be able to apply the findings during the treatment planning process.
Treating Balance and Fall Prevention for the Geriatric Patient
Contact Hours: 4*
Falls are a leading cause of disability and death among the elderly. It is often that the issues leading to a fall are commonly attributed to the effects of aging alone. However, the causes of falls are multifaceted and often include balance and mobility impairments that are a result of disease processes. Many of these impairments are amenable to therapy intervention.
In this course we outline many of the risk factors and impairments leading to fall risk, how to evaluate high risk patients, and ideas for intervention. This course includes discussion of the therapy management of musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and specific sensory disorders that lead to imbalance and falls. In addition to addressing risk factors and physical therapy management, we also review prevention strategies for both home and institutional settings.
Understanding Dementia in the Geriatric Population
Contact Hours: 3*
On a regular basis seniors with dementia are presenting a vast array of behaviors and personality traits that have unveiled the reality that there are actually many different types of dementia. People exhibiting traits of various dementias will respond to treatments and lifestyle adjustments designed to address their respective needs.
In this course, health care professionals explore common forms of dementia including as Alzheimer Disease, Lewy bodies dementia, vascular cognitive impairment (MCI), Frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD), and Depression. Mindset and behavioral issues are defined and solutions identified for many of the issues inherent to these conditions. The solutions include a variety of physical and occupational therapies, as well as specific methods that help improve daily living and feelings of independence for the patient.
PT CEU and PTA CEU Courses for Health Care Organizations
Attention Therapy Employers: You Need High-Quality PT CEU Content for Your Team!
CEU360 offers a CE solution that can drastically minimize expenses for your therapy organization. How? CEU360 provides a large offering of elite physical therapy continuing education course material and compliance training content that is geared towards geriatric therapy providers. Additionally, we create custom orientation and education courses for our clients. By utilizing our comprehensive learning solution, you can consolidate your education, compliance and training needs into one system – cutting your expenses and increasing your profits.
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Why Your Organization Needs CEU360:
Save time and money.
Get a customizable program to seamlessly integrate with your organization's look and feel.
Utilize state-of-the-art learning technology and learning principle best practices to facilitate a rich and engaging education experience.
Possess an online regulatory compliance training solution for all of your employees… anytime, anywhere.
Ensure your physical therapy continuing education offerings are accredited through the appropriate regulating bodies and teach evidenced-based care standards.
Track staff learning with specialized reports and statistics.
Unlimited PT Continuing education and PTA Continuing Education:
CEU360 offers a vast selection of PT CEUs and PTA continuing education courses. With over 800 hours of elite physical therapy CEU courses including geriatric physical therapy continuing education courses and compliance training courses, your physical therapy team can have access to the most diversified, evidence-based CE library on the market. Learn more about utilizing CEU360's learning tools for your health care team.
CLAIM MY FREE LMS DEMO RIGHT NOW →
References:
[1] http://www.disabled-world.com/medical/rehabilitation/therapy/geriatric-therapy.php
[2] http://www.cdc.gov/aging/data/
Source: https://www.ceu360.com/geriatric-physical-therapy-continuing-education-courses/