Geriatric Care Course

Lesson 1 • Demographics of an Ageing Population

Examines global and national trends in population ageing and their impact on healthcare systems. Provides statistical context that motivates every clinical decision covered later.

Lesson 2 • Biology of Normal Ageing

Covers physiological changes across organ systems that occur with healthy ageing. Distinguishes normal ageing from pathology, forming the baseline for disease recognition.

Lesson 3 • Person-Centred Care Philosophy

Introduces values-based, individualised care as the ethical foundation of geriatric practice. Connects philosophical principles to practical care planning throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Functional Status Evaluation

Teaches measurement of activities of daily living and instrumental activities to quantify independence. Functional data directly informs care intensity and discharge planning.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Geriatric Assessment

Defines the purpose and scope of comprehensive geriatric assessment versus standard medical evaluation. Anchors all assessment tools introduced in this chapter to patient outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Social and Environmental Assessment

Evaluates social support networks, living conditions, and safety hazards affecting elder well-being. Links environmental factors to fall risk and care plan modifications.

Lesson 4 • Cognitive and Mental Health Screening

Introduces validated tools for detecting cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety in older adults. Accurate screening prevents misdiagnosis and guides referral decisions.

Lesson 1 • Pressure Injury Prevention and Care

Applies staging systems and evidence-based prevention bundles to reduce pressure injury incidence. Connects skin assessment findings to repositioning, nutrition, and wound care protocols.

Lesson 2 • Urinary Incontinence Management

Classifies incontinence types and applies behavioural, pharmacological, and device-based treatments. Effective management preserves dignity and reduces infection and skin breakdown risk.

Lesson 3 • Dementia Care Fundamentals

Distinguishes dementia types, stages, and behavioural symptoms requiring targeted care approaches. Builds the clinical foundation for advanced dementia management in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Delirium Recognition and Management

Covers the pathophysiology, subtypes, and clinical features of delirium in hospitalised elders. Early recognition and non-pharmacological management reduce delirium duration and complications.

Lesson 1 • Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Ageing

Explains how ageing alters drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. These changes underpin every medication decision made in geriatric practice.

Lesson 2 • Medication Adherence and Administration

Addresses barriers to adherence including cognitive decline, cost, and complex regimens. Practical strategies improve adherence and reduce preventable adverse outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Identifying and Reducing Polypharmacy

Defines polypharmacy, its prevalence, and systematic approaches to medication reconciliation. Deprescribing reduces pill burden and improves adherence and quality of life.

Lesson 1 • Cardiovascular Disease in Ageing

Covers hypertension, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation management adapted for older patients. Age-specific targets and monitoring prevent over-treatment and adverse events.

Lesson 2 • Osteoporosis and bone health

Integrates fracture risk assessment with pharmacological and non-pharmacological bone protection. Bone health management directly reduces fall-related fracture morbidity covered earlier.

Lesson 3 • Diabetes management in older adults

Adapts glycaemic targets and treatment selection to functional status and hypoglycaemia risk. Individualised targets prevent both under- and over-treatment in frail elders.

Lesson 4 • Respiratory conditions in elders

Manages COPD and pneumonia prevention in older adults with age-related pulmonary limitations. Inhaler technique, vaccination, and pulmonary rehab are prioritised interventions.

Lesson 1 • Nutritional assessment in older adults

Applies validated screening tools to identify malnutrition, sarcopenia, and micronutrient deficiencies. Nutritional status directly affects wound healing, immunity, and rehabilitation outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Rehabilitation after acute events

Coordinates post-acute rehabilitation following hip fracture, stroke, and cardiac events in elders. Goal-directed therapy maximises functional recovery within realistic time frames.

Lesson 3 • Therapeutic nutrition interventions

Designs oral supplementation, texture-modified diets, and enteral nutrition plans for malnourished elders. Interventions are matched to swallowing capacity and patient preferences.

Lesson 1 • Advance care planning

Guides clinicians through structured conversations about values, goals, and treatment preferences. Documented plans prevent unwanted interventions and reduce family decisional conflict.

Lesson 2 • Symptom management at end of life

Covers pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of pain, dyspnoea, nausea, and agitation. Effective symptom control is the cornerstone of dignified end-of-life care.

Lesson 3 • Supporting families through grief

Equips clinicians to recognise complicated grief and provide bereavement support to families. Family support is an ethical obligation that extends beyond the patient's death.

Lesson 1 • Geriatric care setting overview

Describes acute hospital, skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, and home care settings. Understanding each setting's capabilities guides appropriate placement decisions.

Lesson 2 • Hospital-to-home transition programmes

Applies structured post-discharge programmes to support elders returning home after hospitalisation. Telephone follow-up, home visits, and self-management coaching reduce 30-day readmissions.

Lesson 3 • Long-term care quality and safety

Applies quality indicators and safety culture principles to long-term care facility management. Continuous quality improvement protects residents from preventable harm and neglect.