Course Description

This course builds on content from other courses to assist students to explore concepts and caregiving approaches that will allow them to work effectively with individuals experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges. The emphasis in this course is on supporting clients with dementia, recognizing responsive behaviours, and identifying person-centred intervention strategies.

Minimum course hours: 60

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe ways to organize, provide, and evaluate person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive challenges:
   • 1.1 Explain the difference between confusion, delirium, and dementia.
   • 1.2 Identify causes of reversible and irreversible dementia and describe the primary forms, causes, symptoms, and treatments, as well as the stages of dementia.
   • 1.3 Discuss principles of person-and family-centred care used to care for individuals living with dementia.
   • 1.4 Use effective communication strategies for interacting with persons with dementia.
   • 1.5 Describe the behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia, including factors influencing behaviours and strategies for preventing and responding to behaviours.
   • 1.6 Describe appropriate techniques for assisting with personal care and dietary intake for persons with dementia.
   • 1.7 Describe appropriate activities for individuals experiencing different levels of dementia.
   • 1.8 Identify the needs of the families and professional caregivers and describe ways to support them.
2. Describe ways to organize, provide, and evaluate person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing mental health challenges:
   • 2.1 Explain the mental health continuum and identify factors that influence the mental health and well-being of individuals.
   • 2.2 Describe the causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevalence of common mental health disorders and conditions.
   • 2.3 Discuss stigma associated with mental health challenges and stigmatizing language.
   • 2.4 Discuss how perceptions of mental health challenges may differ between diverse groups.
   • 2.5 Describe the principles and approaches for person-centred care of the client and family.
   • 2.6 Identify implications of involuntary admission under the Mental Health Act.
3. Describe effective approaches for responding to responsive and reactive behaviours:
   • 3.1 Identify behavioural indicators that an individual or group is becoming reactive or exhibiting behaviours that could impact safety.
   • 3.2 Describe appropriate verbal and non-verbal techniques to promote a calming atmosphere and de-escalate responsive behaviours.
   • 3.3 Identify when and how to exit a potentially unsafe situation.
4. Describe effective approaches for recognizing, responding to, and preventing elder abuse.
   • 4.1 Identify types of elder abuse.
   • 4.2 Describe signs and symptoms of elder abuse.
   • 4.3 Discuss risk factors and underlying causes of elder abuse.
   • 4.4 Discuss strategies for preventing and responding to elder abuse.

Course Content

Cognitive Challenges in Older Adulthood

• Confusion
• Neurocognitive disorders
  • Delirium
  • Dementia
    • Reversible vs. irreversible causes
    • Primary forms: Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
    • Pathology, processes, and characteristics
    • Protective factors and risk factors
    • Stages of dementia
• Person-centred and family-centred care for individuals with dementia.
  • Principles of person- and family-centred care.
  • Common person-centred care training programs for caregivers used in B.C.
  • Common person-centred care models for care facilities.
  • Stigma associated with cognitive challenges and stigmatizing language.
• Effective communication strategies for clients with dementia.
• Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
  • Types of responsive behaviours.
  • Factors precipitating behaviours.
  • Strategies for preventing and responding to BPSD.
  • Knowing when to exit a potentially unsafe situation.
  • Importance of environment in relation to behaviours.
• Environmental design strategies: familiar, homelike, accessible, safe, comfortable, and navigable.
• Working with individuals experiencing early, moderate, or severe dementia.
  • Observing clients and situations.
  • Appropriate engagement and participation in care and activities for individuals experiencing differing levels of dementia.
  • Strategies for assisting with eating and drinking.
  • Non-pharmacological therapies (e.g., music, pets, art, multisensory, massage, bright light, aromatherapy, reminiscence, meaningful activities).
• Supporting family members experiencing grief and loss.
• Caregiver needs and support.

Mental Health Challenges

• Mental health models.
• Factors that influence mental health and well-being in individuals and families, such as stress, illness, loss, and aging.
• Common mental health disorders, including causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevalence of:
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Affective (mood) disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • Personality disorders
  • Substance-related and addictive disorders
  • Dual or multiple diagnoses
  • Suicide risks and prevention
• Stigma associated with mental health challenges and stigmatizing language.
• Perceptions of mental health challenges in diverse groups.
• Caring for the person and family.
  • Principles and approaches used to plan and implement effective care.
  • Person-centred care.
  • Person-first language vs. identity-first language (e.g., person with a diagnosis of depression vs. depressed client).
  • Introduction to trauma-informed care.
  • When and what to report.
• Implications of involuntary admission under the Mental Health Act.
  • Alteration of client’s right to leave the care setting or to refuse treatment.

Abuse

• Types of abuse (reportable incidents).
  • Physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect (as per Residential Care Regulation).
  • Self-neglect.
• Sign and symptoms of elder abuse, including physical injuries, changes in behaviour, emotional distress, financial manipulation, and neglect.
• Risk factors and causes of abuse, including ageism, caregiver stress, social isolation, and mental health challenges.
• Types of abusive relationships.
  • Caregiver/client
  • Family member/client
  • Client/client
• Four stages of the cycle of abuse.
• Strategies for preventing abuse, including promoting awareness, building social networks, and access to supportive services and resources.
• Responding to and reporting signs of abuse.