Lesson 1Mobility, falls risk and gait: Timed Up and Go, Morse Fall Scale, orthostatic vitalsLooks at checking movement, walking, and fall dangers in dementia using Timed Up and Go test, Morse Fall Scale, and standing blood pressure checks. Stresses looking at many risks together and ways to stop falls 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)Shows full checks for food and water needs in dementia, covering weight changes, meal logs, swallow tests, and MNA tool. Focuses on finding risks early, stopping choking dangers, and making care plans just for them.
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 ways to check pain in folks with mind troubles using PAINAD, Abbey Pain Scale, and watching actions. Stresses normal behaviours, culture matters, and checking if pain meds help.
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 actions in dementia with sleep logs, family stories, 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 logsTeaches mapping actions and mind symptoms with ABC charts and logs of how often and how bad. Helps spot patterns, link causes 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 toilet needs in dementia, with bladder and bowel logs, patterns, and help-to-go trials. Points out skin care, respect, and fixing causes of wetting.
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 place and people feelings affect daily life and upset in dementia. Looks at room setup, senses overload, routines, friends talk, and family ways to cut triggers and help 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 mind and feelings checks in dementia with MMSE, MoCA, GDS, and Cornell Scale. Stresses comparing to start point, culture, and using results for 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 rednessFull skin and sore checks in dementia with Braden scores, early sore signs, and noting tears and bottom redness. Stresses stopping sores, turning often, 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 ADLsHelps nurses get quick last-day story with body signs, new changes, normal doings, and daily tasks. Helps spot quick sickness, mind mix-up, or drop and set care needs fast.
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 useChecks meds list for dementia folks, eyeing risky drugs, as-needed use, new changes. Stresses spotting bad effects, cutting extras, 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
