Lesson 1Mobility, falls risk and gait: Timed Up and Go, Morse Fall Scale, orthostatic vitalsLooks at checking movement, walking patterns, and fall dangers in dementia using Timed Up and Go test, Morse Fall Scale, and standing blood pressure checks. Stresses looking at multiple risks and specific prevention steps to keep safe movement.
Taking a focused mobility and falls historyPerforming the Timed Up and Go test safelyUsing the Morse Fall Scale and interpreting scoresMeasuring orthostatic vitals and dizziness symptomsDesigning individualized falls prevention plansLesson 2Nutrition and hydration evaluation: weight trends, meal intake records, swallowing screening, MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment)Covers full checks for food and water needs in dementia, including weight changes, meal logs, swallow tests, and MNA tool. Focuses on spotting risks early, stopping choking dangers, and custom care plans.
Reviewing weight history and BMI trends over timeMonitoring meal intake, snacks, and fluid balanceScreening swallowing and aspiration risk at bedsideAdministering and interpreting the MNA toolPlanning interventions for malnutrition and dehydrationLesson 3Pain assessment in cognitively impaired patients: PAINAD, Abbey Pain Scale, observational indicatorsGives a way to check pain in folks with thinking problems using PAINAD, Abbey Pain Scale, and behaviour signs. Stresses normal behaviours, cultural aspects, and checking how pain relief works.
Recognizing atypical and behavioral pain indicatorsUsing the PAINAD scale step by stepApplying the Abbey Pain Scale in practiceDifferentiating pain from agitation or deliriumReassessing pain after interventions and documentingLesson 4Sleep and nighttime behavior assessment: sleep-wake patterns, sleep diaries, sleep disturbance scalesLooks at checking sleep and night behaviours in dementia using sleep logs, family reports, and standard scales. Deals with body clock issues, safety risks, and non-drug ways to better sleep.
Collecting sleep-wake history and bedtime routinesUsing sleep diaries and actigraphy when availableApplying sleep disturbance scales in dementiaIdentifying nocturnal wandering and safety risksNonpharmacologic strategies to improve sleepLesson 5Behavioral symptom mapping: ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) charting and frequency/severity logsTeaches mapping behaviours and mind symptoms using ABC charts and logs of how often and how bad. Helps spot patterns, link triggers to actions, and use info for non-drug help and team plans.
Principles of ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence)Designing clear behavior definitions and rating scalesCompleting ABC charts in real time on the unitAnalyzing frequency, severity, and temporal patternsUsing mapping data to tailor interventions and careLesson 6Continence and toileting patterns: bladder/bowel charting and prompted voiding assessmentCovers steady checks for bladder and bowel control in dementia, including logs, patterns, and prompted toileting tests. Highlights skin care, respect, and fixable causes of leaks.
Collecting continence history and current routinesUsing bladder and bowel charts for pattern trackingAssessing for reversible causes of incontinenceImplementing prompted voiding and timed toiletingProtecting skin and preserving privacy and dignityLesson 7Environment and psychosocial factors: room setup, triggers, social engagement, family dynamicsChecks how surroundings and social life affect function and upset in dementia. Focuses on room arrangement, sensory overload, routines, social links, and family ways to cut triggers and boost well-being.
Assessing room layout, lighting, and noise levelsIdentifying environmental triggers and overstimulationEvaluating routines, structure, and meaningful activityAssessing social engagement and isolation riskExploring family roles, conflict, and caregiver stressLesson 8Cognition and mood screening: MMSE, MoCA, Global Deterioration Scale, Cornell Scale for Depression in DementiaLooks at checks for thinking and mood in dementia using MMSE, MoCA, GDS, and Cornell Scale. Stresses comparing to baselines, cultural factors, and using results in care plans and talks.
Selecting appropriate cognitive screening toolsAdministering MMSE and MoCA reliablyUsing the Global Deterioration Scale for stagingScreening depression with the Cornell ScaleCommunicating results to team, patient, and familyLesson 9Skin and wound assessment: pressure risk scales (Braden), documentation of skin tears and sacral rednessDetails full skin and wound checks in dementia, including Braden scores, early pressure sore signs, and noting tears and bottom redness. Stresses stopping problems, turning patients, and team follow-up.
Performing a head-to-toe skin inspectionUsing the Braden Scale and interpreting risk levelsIdentifying early pressure injury and sacral rednessAssessing and documenting skin tears accuratelyPlanning prevention, dressings, and follow-up careLesson 10Collecting immediate 24-hour history: vital signs, recent changes, baseline function, and ADLsGuides nurses to gather quick 24-hour history, including vitals, recent shifts, normal function, and daily tasks. Helps spot sudden sickness, confusion, or drop fast and set urgent care needs.
Reviewing recent vital signs and pain scoresIdentifying new symptoms and behavior changesClarifying baseline cognition and functional statusDocumenting ADL performance and support needsPrioritizing urgent concerns for provider reviewLesson 11Medication review and polypharmacy check: anticholinergics, sedatives, hypoglycemics, antihypertensives, recent changes and PRN useLooks at checking medicines for dementia folks, focusing on risky drugs, as-needed use, and new changes. Stresses spotting bad effects, cutting unneeded meds, and working with doctors.
Collecting complete medication and allergy historiesIdentifying high-risk anticholinergic and sedative drugsReviewing hypoglycemics and antihypertensives safelyAssessing PRN use, duplication, and drug interactionsCommunicating concerns and deprescribing with prescribers
