Lesson 1Mobility, falls risk and gait: Timed Up and Go, Morse Fall Scale, orthostatic vitalsLooks at checking mobility, walking style, and fall risks in dementia using Timed Up and Go, Morse Fall Scale, and standing blood pressure checks. Stresses looking at many risk factors and targeted ways to prevent falls while keeping 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)Goes into full checks on food and water needs in dementia, covering weight changes, meal logs, swallow tests, and MNA. Puts emphasis on spotting risks early, stopping choking dangers, and custom care ways.
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 clear way to check pain in folks with thinking problems using PAINAD, Abbey Pain Scale, and behaviour signs. Stresses normal behaviours, cultural sides, and checking how pain meds work.
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 closely at sleep and night behaviours in dementia, using sleep logs, carer reports, and standard scales. Deals with body clock issues, safety dangers, 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 logsCovers proper mapping of behaviour and mind symptoms using ABC charts and severity logs. Teaches spotting patterns, linking triggers to actions, and using data 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 assessmentLooks at steady checks on bladder and bowel control in dementia, including logs, patterns, and prompted toilet trials. 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 steady checks on thinking and mood in dementia using MMSE, MoCA, GDS, and Cornell Scale. Stresses comparing to baselines, cultural factors, and fitting findings into 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 logging tears and redness. Stresses stopping problems, turning positions, 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, covering vitals, recent shifts, normal function, and daily tasks. Helps spot sudden sickness, confusion, or drop fast and set care needs right away.
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 steady med checks for dementia folks, focusing on risky drugs, as-needed use, and recent 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
