Lesson 1Pain assessment in older adults: self-report, observational tools for cognitively impaired residents, pattern and impact of painExplains top methods for checking pain in elderly folks, stressing self-reporting, proven watching tools for those with thinking problems, analysing pain patterns, and how pain affects rest, feelings, movement, and joining in daily tasks in local settings.
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 continenceLooks into a full head-to-toe, body-system check for older people, zeroing in on heart, breathing, muscles and bones, skin health, and bladder control to catch early worsening, direct help, and back safe daily care in Zambian facilities.
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 assistanceShows how to check daily function using basic activities, advanced tasks, movement, shifting positions, and help needs, to set starting points, plan rehab, share resources, and watch changes over time in elderly care.
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 deficitsCenters on thorough falls danger checks, covering surroundings, shoes, sudden blood pressure drops, too many medicines, and sense losses, to make aimed prevention plans and cut injury chances for older Zambians.
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 directivesGives a plan for gathering true background info in the first two days, including old health and falls records, social life, cultural likes, and end-of-life plans, to shape personal care plans based on values in Zambia.
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 needsShows how to check social help, family relations, choice-making ability, and carer worries, while noting cultural, faith, and tongue needs that shape care plans, talks, and involvement of elderly in Zambian homes.
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 burdenGoes over safe medicine matching on entry, focusing on checking records, spotting high-danger drugs, seeing clashes and side effect loads, and teaming with drug experts and doctors in local care.
Collecting a complete medication historyIdentifying high-risk medicines in geriatricsRecognizing 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 healthSets out food and water checks, including weight past, eating watch, swallowing dangers, and mouth health, to find poor eating, dry body, and choking risks, and guide quick referrals and care in Zambia.
Baseline weight, BMI, and weight change trendsUsing malnutrition screening toolsMonitoring food and fluid intake accuratelyRecognizing 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 record-keeping and shift handovers for first two days, stressing set forms, clear thinking, danger sums, and quick sharing of main points with the health team in aged care settings.
Using structured admission assessment templatesWriting clear, concise clinical notesSummarizing 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 planned checks of thinking and feelings, including when to test, tool picks, result reads, with starting watches and family info to tell apart confusion, memory loss, and low mood in elders.
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
