Lesson 1Pain assessment in older adults: self-report, observational tools for cognitively impaired residents, pattern and impact of painDetails best practice pain assessment in older adults, emphasising self-report, validated observational tools for cognitive impairment, pain pattern analysis, and the impact of pain on sleep, mood, mobility, and participation in daily activities to improve quality of life.
Principles of self-reported pain assessmentPain scales for cognitively impaired residentsAssessing pain pattern, triggers, and durationImpact of pain on function, mood, and sleepReassessment and documenting pain responsesLesson 2Systematic physical assessment: cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal (including mobility and gait), skin integrity, and continenceExplores a head-to-toe, system-based physical assessment for older adults, focusing on cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, skin, and continence status to detect early deterioration, guide interventions, and support safe daily care in residential settings.
Cardiovascular assessment and vital sign trendsRespiratory assessment and breath sound changesMusculoskeletal strength, mobility, and gait analysisSkin integrity, pressure injury and wound screeningBladder and bowel continence assessment toolsLesson 3Functional status assessment: ADLs, IADLs, mobility aids use, transfers, and need for assistanceExplains how to assess functional status using ADLs, IADLs, mobility, transfers, and assistance needs, to establish baseline function, plan rehabilitation, allocate resources, and monitor changes over time for better resident independence.
Assessing basic ADLs and care dependenceEvaluating IADLs and community functioningMobility aids use and safe techniqueTransfer ability and manual handling needsSetting realistic functional goals with residentsLesson 4Falls risk assessment specifics: environmental review, footwear, orthostatic hypotension, polypharmacy and sensory deficitsFocuses on detailed falls risk assessment, including environment, footwear, orthostatic hypotension, polypharmacy, and sensory deficits, to create targeted prevention strategies and reduce injury risk in older adults living in care homes.
Using validated falls risk assessment toolsEnvironmental and equipment safety reviewFootwear, foot problems, and mobility aidsScreening for orthostatic hypotensionPolypharmacy and sedative medication risksVision, hearing, and other sensory deficitsLesson 5Collecting accurate history in the first 48 hours: past medical history, fall history, social history, cultural preferences, and advanced directivesProvides a framework for collecting accurate history within 48 hours, including past medical and fall history, social background, cultural preferences, and advance care directives, to inform individualised, values-based care plans in aged care.
Past medical and surgical history collectionPrevious falls, injuries, and near-miss eventsSocial history, routines, and support networksCultural, spiritual, and language preferencesAdvance directives and goals of careLesson 6Social and family assessment: capacity, family concerns, frequency of visits, cultural and language needsExplains how to assess social supports, family dynamics, decision-making capacity, and caregiver concerns, while identifying cultural, spiritual, and language needs that influence care planning, communication, and resident engagement in nursing facilities.
Assessing social support and living arrangementsEvaluating decision-making capacity indicatorsIdentifying family concerns and expectationsCultural, spiritual, and language care needsCarer stress, burden, and respite needsLesson 7Medication review on admission: reconciliation process, high-risk medications for older adults, interactions and anticholinergic burdenReviews safe medication reconciliation on admission, focusing on verifying histories, identifying high-risk medicines, recognising interactions and anticholinergic burden, and collaborating with pharmacists and prescribers to ensure patient safety.
Collecting a complete medication historyIdentifying high-risk medicines in geriatricsRecognising drug interactions and duplicationsAssessing anticholinergic and sedative burdenWorking with pharmacists and prescribersLesson 8Nutrition and hydration screening: weights, food/fluid intake monitoring, dysphagia risk indicators, oral healthOutlines nutrition and hydration screening, including weight history, intake monitoring, dysphagia risk, and oral health, to identify malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration risk, and to guide timely referrals and care planning in elderly care.
Baseline weight, BMI, and weight change trendsUsing malnutrition screening toolsMonitoring food and fluid intake accuratelyRecognising dysphagia and aspiration risk signsOral health, dentures, and swallowing impactLesson 9Documentation standards and handover: use of structured templates and communicating key findings to MDT within 48 hoursDescribes documentation and handover standards for the first 48 hours, emphasising structured templates, clear clinical reasoning, risk summaries, and timely communication of key findings to the multidisciplinary team for effective care coordination.
Using structured admission assessment templatesWriting clear, concise clinical notesSummarising key risks and prioritiesVerbal and written handover to MDTTimeframes and accountability in first 48 hoursLesson 10Cognitive and mood evaluation: when and how to assess cognition and mood, baseline cognitive observations, collateral history from familyCovers structured assessment of cognition and mood, including when to screen, how to choose tools, and how to interpret results, while integrating baseline observations and family input to distinguish delirium, dementia, and depression in residents.
Screening for delirium, dementia, and depressionSelecting and using cognitive screening toolsMood assessment and suicide risk indicatorsGathering collateral history from family or carersDocumenting baseline cognition and behavior
