Lesson 1Cognitive screening tools: MMSE, MoCA, Mini-Cog — administration and interpretationProvides practical guidance on cognitive screening with MMSE, MoCA, and Mini-Cog, including preparation, standardized administration, scoring, cultural and educational considerations, and how to discuss results with patients and families.
Preparing the environment for testingStandardized MMSE administration and scoringMoCA domains and cutoff interpretationMini-Cog clock drawing and recall stepsCommunicating cognitive results sensitivelyLesson 2Advance care values and life goals elicitation: goal-based questions, spiritual and cultural preference probesCovers eliciting advance care values and life goals through goal-based questions and spiritual or cultural probes, documenting preferences, and integrating them into care plans and shared decision-making conversations.
Introducing values and goals conversationsExploring hopes, fears, and trade-offsSpiritual and cultural preference probesDocumenting preferences and proxiesRevisiting goals as health status changesLesson 3Social network and loneliness assessment tools: UCLA Loneliness Scale (short), social network mappingGuides assessment of social networks and loneliness using the UCLA Loneliness Scale (short) and social network mapping, exploring support quality, isolation risks, and interventions to strengthen meaningful connections.
Exploring living situation and supportsAdministering the short UCLA scaleCreating a visual social network mapIdentifying isolation and caregiver strainPlanning social and community interventionsLesson 4Functional mobility and falls screening: Timed Up and Go, 30-second sit-to-stand, gait and balance observationFocuses on functional mobility and falls screening using Timed Up and Go, 30-second sit-to-stand, and gait and balance observation, including safety precautions, scoring, and linking findings to fall prevention plans.
Key fall risk factors in older adultsAdministering the Timed Up and Go test30-second sit-to-stand protocol and normsObserving gait, posture, and balanceTranslating findings into fall preventionLesson 5Home safety and environmental assessment checklist: stairs, lighting, rugs, bathroom hazardsOutlines structured home safety and environmental assessment, focusing on stairs, lighting, rugs, bathroom hazards, and assistive devices, and shows how to prioritize modifications that reduce falls and support independence.
Preparing for a home safety walkthroughAssessing stairs, railings, and entrancesEvaluating lighting, cords, and loose rugsIdentifying bathroom and toileting hazardsRecommending aids and home modificationsLesson 6Nutrition and weight loss screening: MNA-SF, simple dietary recall, identifying red flagsTeaches nutrition and weight loss screening using MNA-SF and simple dietary recall, identifying red flags such as unintentional weight loss, dysphagia, and appetite changes, and planning appropriate referrals and follow-up.
Risk factors for malnutrition in agingAdministering and scoring the MNA-SFConducting a brief dietary recall interviewIdentifying red flags and urgent concernsCoordinating dietitian and medical referralsLesson 7Mood and anxiety screening in older adults: GDS-5/15, PHQ-2/9, GAD-7Covers mood and anxiety screening in older adults using GDS-5/15, PHQ-2/9, and GAD-7, including indications, administration tips, interpretation, suicide risk follow-up, and communicating results with empathy and clarity.
Recognizing mood and anxiety red flagsAdministering GDS-5 and GDS-15Using PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 stepwiseScreening with GAD-7 for anxietyResponding to positive or high-risk screensLesson 8Principles of person-centered gerontological assessmentIntroduces core principles of person-centered gerontological assessment, emphasizing respect, autonomy, shared decision-making, cultural humility, and trauma-informed communication, while integrating family input without undermining the older adult.
Building rapport and psychological safetySupporting autonomy and shared decisionsCultural and spiritual humility in assessmentTrauma-informed questioning and pacingBalancing family input with patient voiceLesson 9Pain assessment in older adults: numeric scales, PAINAD, multi-dimensional pain historyDetails pain assessment in older adults using numeric scales, PAINAD, and multidimensional history, addressing communication barriers, chronic versus acute pain, and documentation that guides safe, individualized pain management plans.
Choosing and explaining numeric rating scalesUsing PAINAD in advanced dementiaCharacter, onset, location, duration, intensityImpact of pain on sleep, mood, and functionDocumenting pain findings for the care teamLesson 10Structured history elements: medical, medications, pain, sleep, nutrition, ADLs/IADLsExplores structured, person-centered history taking in geriatric care, covering medical conditions, medications, pain, sleep, nutrition, and daily function, while modeling communication that respects autonomy, culture, and cognitive limitations.
Organizing the initial geriatric interviewEliciting past medical and surgical historySystematic medication and supplement reviewAssessing sleep quality and common disturbancesExploring ADLs and IADLs with concrete examples
