Lesson 1Pain assessment in older adults: self-report, observational tools for cognitively impaired residents, pattern and impact of painOutlines top practices for checking pain in elderly folks, stressing self-reporting, proven observational methods for those with mental challenges, analysing pain patterns, and how pain affects sleep, feelings, movement, and joining in daily tasks in local care homes.
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/bowel control to catch early worsening, direct help, and back safe daily care in Zimbabwean 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 functioning using basic activities of living, more complex ones, movement, shifting positions, and help needs, to set a starting point, plan rehab, assign resources, and watch changes over time in community 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, multiple meds, and sense losses, to make aimed prevention plans and cut injury chances for older folks in Zimbabwe.
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 structure 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, value-based care plans suited to Zimbabwean culture.
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 checking social backing, family relations, choice-making ability, and carer worries, while spotting cultural, spiritual, and tongue needs that shape care planning, talking, and involving residents in local settings.
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 med matching on entry, focusing on checking records, spotting high-danger drugs, noting clashes and anti-cholinergic loads, and teaming with chemists and doctors in Zimbabwean health systems.
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 healthMaps out food and water checks, including weight past, eating tracking, swallowing dangers, and mouth health, to find poor nutrition, dryness, and choking risks, and guide quick referrals and care plans in care centres.
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 the first two days, stressing set templates, clear thinking, danger overviews, and quick sharing of main findings with the multi-team in Zimbabwean facilities.
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 familyHandles set checks of thinking and feelings, including when to test, tool choices, result reading, plus starting observations 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
