Geriatric Rehabilitation Course

Lesson 1 • Common Geriatric Syndromes Overview

Introduces frailty, sarcopenia, falls, delirium, and polypharmacy as rehabilitation-relevant syndromes. Links each syndrome to functional decline patterns.

Lesson 2 • Biology of Human Aging

Covers cellular, organ-system, and functional changes across the lifespan. Provides the physiological baseline for all subsequent rehabilitation decisions.

Lesson 3 • Geriatric Rehabilitation Principles

Defines rehabilitation goals unique to older adults, including function preservation and quality of life. Distinguishes geriatric from general adult rehabilitation.

Lesson 1 • Cognitive and Psychological Screening

Covers validated screens for dementia, depression, and anxiety in older adults. Identifies cognitive and emotional barriers to rehabilitation participation.

Lesson 2 • Integrating Assessment Into Care Plans

Synthesises multidomain data into prioritised, measurable rehabilitation goals. Demonstrates documentation and communication of findings to the care team.

Lesson 3 • Functional Mobility Assessment

Teaches standardised tools measuring gait, balance, and transfer ability. Connects mobility data to fall risk stratification and rehabilitation goal-setting.

Lesson 4 • Nutritional and Frailty Screening

Applies nutrition and frailty indices to identify patients at risk for poor rehabilitation outcomes. Integrates findings into interdisciplinary care planning.

Lesson 1 • Multifactorial Fall Risk Assessment

Applies clinical tools to identify intrinsic and extrinsic fall risk factors comprehensively. Stratifies patients into low, moderate, and high risk categories.

Lesson 2 • Biomechanics of Balance and Gait

Explains postural control systems, centre of mass dynamics, and age-related gait deviations. Provides the mechanical foundation for targeted balance interventions.

Lesson 3 • Balance Training Interventions

Teaches progressive balance exercises targeting static, dynamic, and reactive control. Matches exercise intensity to patient risk level and functional capacity.

Lesson 4 • Gait Retraining Techniques

Addresses gait deviations through cueing, assistive devices, and task-specific practice. Restores safe, efficient ambulation in community and clinical settings.

Lesson 1 • Hip Fracture Rehabilitation

Covers post-surgical protocols, weight-bearing progressions, and functional milestones after hip fracture. Addresses complications including delirium and deconditioning.

Lesson 2 • Arthritis and Chronic Joint Pain

Addresses osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis management through therapeutic exercise and joint protection. Balances activity promotion with pain and fatigue management.

Lesson 3 • Sarcopenia and Strength Training

Prescribes progressive resistance training to reverse sarcopenia and restore functional strength. Adapts intensity and volume to frailty level and comorbidity burden.

Lesson 4 • Osteoporosis and Bone Health Management

Integrates bone density data into safe exercise prescription and fracture risk reduction. Teaches load management principles to protect fragile skeletal structures.

Lesson 1 • Dementia and Cognitive Rehabilitation

Adapts rehabilitation techniques for patients with mild to moderate dementia. Uses errorless learning, routine-based training, and caregiver coaching to optimise outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation

Applies LSVT BIG, treadmill training, and cueing strategies to address Parkinson's motor features. Addresses freezing of gait, postural instability, and dysarthria.

Lesson 3 • Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Training

Integrates cognitive challenges into motor tasks to improve real-world functional performance. Progresses dual-task difficulty based on individual cognitive and motor capacity.

Lesson 4 • Stroke Rehabilitation in Older Adults

Covers acute and subacute stroke rehabilitation with attention to age-specific complications. Applies task-specific training and constraint-induced approaches to motor recovery.

Lesson 1 • Cardiovascular Aging and Exercise Response

Describes age-related cardiac changes affecting exercise tolerance and training response. Establishes safe exercise parameters for older adults with cardiovascular disease.

Lesson 2 • Heart Failure and Deconditioning Rehabilitation

Addresses the unique challenges of rehabilitating older adults with heart failure and severe deconditioning. Applies low-intensity progressive protocols to restore functional capacity safely.

Lesson 3 • Pulmonary Rehabilitation Techniques

Covers breathing retraining, airway clearance, and exercise training for COPD and restrictive lung disease. Reduces dyspnoea and improves functional capacity in older patients.

Lesson 4 • Aerobic Exercise Prescription

Applies FITT-VP principles to design individualised aerobic programmes for older cardiac patients. Teaches intensity monitoring using perceived exertion and heart rate methods.

Lesson 1 • Depression and Anxiety Management

Addresses late-life depression and anxiety through behavioural activation and motivational strategies. Integrates mental health support into the physical rehabilitation process.

Lesson 2 • Caregiver Education and Support

Trains caregivers in safe assistance techniques, communication strategies, and self-care practices. Reduces caregiver burden while enhancing patient safety and rehabilitation continuity.

Lesson 3 • Social Engagement and Isolation Prevention

Designs group and community-based activities to reduce social isolation and promote well-being. Links social participation to improved rehabilitation adherence and outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Cognitive Rehabilitation Strategies

Applies compensatory and restorative cognitive techniques to improve daily function in older adults. Targets memory, attention, and executive function deficits affecting rehabilitation.

Lesson 1 • Transitions of Care Management

Coordinates rehabilitation continuity across acute, post-acute, and community settings. Reduces readmission risk through structured handoff communication and discharge planning.

Lesson 2 • Clinical Reasoning With Multimorbidity

Applies systematic reasoning to prioritise rehabilitation problems in patients with multiple chronic conditions. Manages competing precautions and contraindications across organ systems.

Lesson 3 • Outcome Measurement and Programme Evaluation

Selects and applies patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures to evaluate programme effectiveness. Uses data to drive quality improvement and justify clinical decisions.

Lesson 4 • Individualised Programme Design

Integrates assessment findings, patient preferences, and evidence to build comprehensive rehabilitation programmes. Balances intensity, frequency, and modality selection for complex older adults.