| A List of Course Instructors |
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Barbra London, MSW, LCSW, LNHA
Janet Pincu, MSW, LCSW, CALA
Elizabeth Moss, BSN, RN
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| Ageism: Another Form of Bigotry* |
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It is widely recognized that we live in a youth-oriented society. This course will explore the resulting ageism toward older adults and how this affects our personal and professional relationships. We will explore the ways in which older people in America are often rendered invisible and an overview of ageism toward older adults in this country will be provided. Additionally, we will examine the status of the elderly, our attitudes toward them and the historic and economic circumstances that have impacted these feelings. The problems of elder abuse and the impact of ageism on health care and on the work place will be discussed.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Compassion Fatigue: Bearing the Suffering of Our Clients* |
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It is known that those working in the caring professions are among those to provide the mental health services to clients suffering from psychological trauma following life altering events. This program will focus on the emotional exhaustion from working with such clients, or Compassion Fatigue (CF)," The program will explore how CF differs from other occupational hazards such as Secondary Trauma (ST) and job burnout.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Elder Abuse, Age Old Problem, New Perspective* |
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Few in this country recognize the existence of a silent problem within our society – the issue of elder abuse in its many forms and types. It is imperative that as professionals working with the senior population, their families and others who may provide care to the elderly we are alert to this issue. This course will define the meaning of abuse and help to provide an understanding of the various types of abuse. We will explore who are at most risk of being abused as well as who are the abusers. Additionally, guidelines will be provided in how to detect and recognize all signs of abuse in all settings. Finally, the group will discuss various options to preventions, including an overview of the NJ mandatory reporting laws and the NJ Office of the Ombudsman.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Elder Care: Planning, Not Reacting* |
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The process of linking the appropriate antidote to problems facing older adults in today's health care environment can be a daunting task. As helping professionals, we are often called upon to guide older adults and their families through complex systems. The medical, legal, financial, housing and social work professions have created independent areas of expertise that often leave the older adult and professional unsure as to where to begin. This course will alleviate the confusion and provide a perspective to elder care that addresses the biological, psychological, financial and social needs of older adults. A framework for assessment, care planning, and negotiating the options will be provided. Participants will learn of services, products and resources available to help elderly individuals maintain the highest quality of life. From early planning, to home services, to residential healthcare facilities, attendees will be able to help frail and vulnerable adults remain in the least restrictive setting.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Everyday Ethical Dilemmas in Geriatric Care* |
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In our society, ethics refers to the principles that define and guide our behavior as right, good or proper. Through increased longevity of the geriatric population, critical life and death health choices are being made every day. Ironically, most elderly people are challenged for long periods of time about everyday ethics in how they treated by professionals and the long term care settings in which they practice. This course will explore ethical principles such as self–determination, autonomy, paternalism, informed consent as witnessed in everyday life. Participants will engage in techniques of ethical decision making, conflict resolution and the rights of the geriatric individual.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Finding a Good Way to Give Bad News* |
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| Few clinicians have been formally, or even informally, trained in giving bad news. The task can cause great stress. Using communication techniques which undermine patient trust and satisfaction is often a pitfall for clinicians. An overview of how bad news is defined as well as the challenges Social Workers, RNs, mental health practitioners and physicians face when asked to give bad news thousands of times during the course of a career will be explored.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| People Who Push Our Buttons: Understanding Conflict and Dealing Effectively With Difficult People* |
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| Some studies have shown that difficult people comprise approximately ten percent of the population but cause over 50 % of all relational damage. Those of us in the geriatric and/or health care field must learn to identify and deal with many types of difficult people on a daily basis; i.e. corporate and facility co-workers, residents, clients, their families and the public-at-large. This course will provide participants with knowledge of how to identify challenging behaviors in others and ourselves. It will explore personality types and how to recognize our actions and deal effectively with inevitable conflict.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Quality In-Home Care, Hidden Costs, Risks and Liabilities: A Consumer Protection Issue* |
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| In-home care services are on the rise in America. The risks and liabilities of hiring in-home help are great if there is a lack of understanding on a referral source’s part about the types of care and the responsibilities inherent in providing or seeking in-home care. Clearly, all Home Care is not equal. Private duty home care is a complex, mostly unregulated industry and the quality of care between providers varies greatly. Without knowing it, the consumer risks employing a home care provider who may not be qualified and who may take advantage of the consumer on many levels: physically, psychologically and/or financially. Often consumers are not aware of the legal risk they face for nonpayment of the required governmental liabilities when they use registries, placement agencies or hire an independent care provider. This seminar will explore those legal risks as well as the costs and liabilities that potentially face consumers of in home care, inform and educate about the current laws in NJ. It will help differentiate between the choices of home care- licensed home care, registries, and private hires.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Sensitivity To Cultural Diversity in the Elderly* |
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Today's aging population is more diverse than ever in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and language, immigration history, socioeconomic levels and education. In order to provide effective care in this changing demographic mosaic, our approaches must also change. This course will provide geriatric clinicians with an understanding of the effects of cultural components and learn to use this knowledge to design appropriate culturally sensitive care plans. Discussion will include cultural theoretical frameworks, practice assessment, interventions, evaluation and research methodologies specific to ethnic-elders, their families and communities.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits
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| Sexuality and the Elderly* |
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Participation in this course will provide a clinical overview of the physical, behavioral, psychological and social aspects of sexuality as is pertains to the aged. Normal sexual functioning will be explored as well as sexual dysfunction, sexual behavior in residential and healthcare facilities and sexual expression in specific populations, such as those with dementia. Participants will learn how to assess for sexual problems, gain an understanding of treatment options and learn effective interventions.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Spirituality and Aging* |
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This course will provide an overview of the role of religion, faith, belief systems and organizations, which have an effect on the bio/psycho/social aspects of life as we age. Participants will learn of holistic practices and their infiltration in the care and treatment of older adults. The spiritual component in end-of-life decision-making will be explored. All areas will be viewed in a clinical context, providing program participants with assessment tools and critical thinking abilities to help them understand the complex needs of the aging population.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| The Changing Face of Supervision: Mentoring, Coaching & Counseling |
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| The expanding and changing role of the social worker, manager or nurse has created multiple approaches to professional accountability and/or development. Many healthcare professionals are currently supervised by managers who do not share the ethics and values of the profession for whom they oversee in the areas of supervision, human relations, growth and development. In the modern management mosaic of multi-disciplinary teams, coaching and counseling techniques are becoming accepted substitutes for clinical supervision. Participants will gain knowledge of the similarities and differences among these techniques and attain a level of competency in differentiating the approaches as they relate to role, settings and goals.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Transitions: Toward a Successful Adjustment* |
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Transitions occur throughout the life cycle. The experience of aging is one of living with life-altering experiences. Successful aging and adaptation to new situations requires coping within evitable losses, accepting one's new life positively and beginning again to create a meaningful life. By taking a proactive approach, we can help the elderly achieve a successful adjustment to new life experiences. Participants will learn the effect that life transitions have on older adults. They will be able to identify individual coping responses and acquire the skills necessary to help elderly individuals successfully adjust to new life situations.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia* |
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As the Baby Boomer’s turn 60 more and more adults are impacted both personally and professionally by this disease. This disease presents unique challenges for families, caregivers, professionals and the patients themselves. This seminar will confront, define and explore the issues, obstacles and concerns all are faced with as well as providing an understanding of AD and other forms of dementia. We will explore demography, clinical manifestations of the disease as well as the pathophysiology of dementia as well as diagnosis and treatment and future trends in diagnosis and care. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about differential diagnosis’, the prevalence of AD, and the stages and progression of the illness. Risk factors for dementia will be covered.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Understanding Depression and Suicide in the Elderly* |
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Of the nearly 35 million Americans over the age of 65, an estimated 2 million suffer from a depressive illness and another 5 million may have some symptoms of depression. Depression is not a normal part of aging. In fact, it is treatable with proper treatment either medication, talk therapy or a combination. Knowing when someone is experiencing norm al emotional experiences of sadness, grief, loss or passing mood states and when someone is suffering with clinical depression is dependent on proper diagnosis by a trained professional. This discussion will assist the older person and their families understand about depression and how to recognize it in their loved ones.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Understanding Substance Abuse Among Older Adults* |
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This program will provide a conceptual and theoretical understanding of substance abuse and the elderly. The epidemiology, statistics of abuse and related issues will be explored. The program will cover the abuse of alcohol, prescription medication, over the counter medications, and tobacco. Participants will better learn the signs, symptoms of substance abuse, and those at high risk for abuse. Age related effects of use of alcohol, medication misuse, over the counter drug misuse, and tobacco abuse will be covered. The barriers to diagnosis and treatment will be examined assisting practitioners in recognizing the trap of confusing symptoms of substance use disorders with age-related changes and disorders such as dementia and delirium. The issues of most concern to providers who work with these populations will be presented. Also addressed will be a focus on various treatment modalities appropriate and success oriented for this target population. The area of prevention through various means such as increased awareness among providers, caregivers and the public about the older adults’ diverse and multiple needs is discussed.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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| Understanding the Impact of Aging on Families* |
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This program is designed to provide the attendees with a working understanding of the process of aging in this country and its impact on the family. The program will examine specific characteristics of the aging family, other trends that impacts family life, and the structure and dynamics of the caregiving relationship. In addition, attendees will explore who the caregiver is, who receives care, who provides care, changing roles and relationships with in the family.
*Approved for Social Workers & RN/LPN credits |
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