Lesson 1Pain assessment in older adults: self-report, observational tools for cognitively impaired residents, pattern and impact of painExplains best ways to check pain in elderly folks, focusing on what they say themselves, reliable watching methods for those with memory issues, analysing pain patterns, and how pain affects sleep, feelings, movement, and daily tasks in local settings.
Basics of self-reported pain checksPain scales for residents with thinking problemsChecking pain patterns, causes, and lengthHow pain affects daily life, mood, and restRe-checking and recording pain reactionsLesson 2Systematic physical assessment: cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal (including mobility and gait), skin integrity, and continenceLooks at a full head-to-toe body check for older people, highlighting heart, lungs, muscles and bones, skin health, and bladder control to catch early problems, suggest help, and aid safe daily care in Botswana facilities.
Heart checks and vital signs over timeLung checks and breathing sound shiftsMuscle strength, movement, and walking analysisSkin health, pressure sore and wound screeningBladder and bowel control check toolsLesson 3Functional status assessment: ADLs, IADLs, mobility aids use, transfers, and need for assistanceShows how to evaluate daily abilities using basic and advanced tasks, movement tools, shifting positions, and help needs, to set starting points, plan recovery, assign resources, and track changes in elderly care.
Checking basic daily tasks and care needsReviewing advanced tasks and community lifeUsing movement aids and safe methodsTransfer skills and handling requirementsSetting achievable daily goals with residentsLesson 4Falls risk assessment specifics: environmental review, footwear, orthostatic hypotension, polypharmacy and sensory deficitsDeals with in-depth falls risk checks, covering surroundings, shoes, blood pressure drops on standing, multiple medicines, and sense losses, to build aimed prevention plans and lower injury chances for older adults.
Using proven falls risk check toolsReviewing surroundings and gear safetyShoes, foot issues, and movement aidsChecking for standing blood pressure dropsMultiple meds and calming drug risksSight, hearing, and other sense problemsLesson 5Collecting accurate history in the first 48 hours: past medical history, fall history, social history, cultural preferences, and advanced directivesGives a plan for gathering true background info in the first two days, including past health and falls, social life, cultural likes, and end-of-life wishes, to shape personal, value-based care plans.
Gathering past health and operation historyPrior falls, hurts, and close callsSocial background, habits, and support circlesCultural, spiritual, and language likesEnd-of-life wishes and care aimsLesson 6Social and family assessment: capacity, family concerns, frequency of visits, cultural and language needsTeaches assessing social help, family relations, choice-making ability, and carer worries, while noting cultural, spiritual, and language needs that shape care plans, talks, and resident involvement in Botswana.
Assessing social help and living setupsChecking choice-making ability signsSpotting family worries and hopesCultural, spiritual, and language care needsCarer stress, load, and break needsLesson 7Medication review on admission: reconciliation process, high-risk medications for older adults, interactions and anticholinergic burdenLooks at safe medicine matching on entry, stressing verifying pasts, spotting high-risk drugs, noting clashes and drying-effect loads, and teaming with chemists and doctors in local practices.
Gathering full medicine historySpotting high-risk drugs for eldersNoting drug clashes and repeatsChecking drying and calming drug loadsTeaming with chemists and doctorsLesson 8Nutrition and hydration screening: weights, food/fluid intake monitoring, dysphagia risk indicators, oral healthOutlines food and water checks, including weight pasts, eating tracking, swallowing risks, and mouth health, to find poor nutrition, dryness, and choking dangers, and guide quick referrals and care plans.
Starting weight, body mass, and change trendsUsing poor nutrition check toolsTracking food and water intake rightSpotting swallowing and choking risk signsMouth health, false teeth, and swallow effectsLesson 9Documentation standards and handover: use of structured templates and communicating key findings to MDT within 48 hoursDescribes record-keeping and shift handovers for first two days, stressing set forms, clear thinking, risk overviews, and quick sharing of main findings with the team of experts.
Using set entry check formsWriting clear, short clinical notesSumming key risks and main pointsSpoken and written handovers to teamTimelines and duty in first two daysLesson 10Cognitive and mood evaluation: when and how to assess cognition and mood, baseline cognitive observations, collateral history from familyCovers planned checks of thinking and feelings, including when to test, tool choices, result meanings, with starting watches and family info to tell apart confusion, memory loss, and sadness.
Testing for confusion, memory loss, and sadnessPicking and using thinking test toolsFeeling checks and self-harm risk signsGetting family or carer background infoRecording starting thinking and actions
