Course Description
This course will focus on training and educating of those caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The course includes an overview of the different types of dementia, recognizing signs and symptoms, and basic principles of dementia care. Other topics include the daily care of dementia individuals, common behavioral problems associated with dementia, and the best strategies and approaches for dealing with these problems. The course also reviews common medical problems, strategies for coping with dementia, and the importance of caring for the caregiver. This course will also include clinical experiences (field work) working under the direction of a mentor in the clinical facility to implement best practices in caring for patients in the community.
Prerequisite
- None
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Identify the anatomy and physiology of the brain.
- Describe the normal aging process and identify physiologic changes.
- Explain the clinical manifestations of dementia and stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Identify and describe typical communication problems and therapeutic techniques.
- Demonstrate how to assist with the daily care needs of the dementia client, such as oral care, bathing, dressing, and toileting.
- Examine the types of behavioral problems and how to manage them effectively.
- Discuss the role of the caregiver and identify support systems available.
- Examine the legal and ethical issues involved in the care of dementia clients.
Course Activities and Grading
For each unit, we will follow the DOIT format:
Define - identifies the objectives of the unit each week.
Observation - this includes lecture, reading assignments and field experiences/assignments
Intervention - engage in field experiences/assignments
Tried and True - assignments that may include discussion board questions, papers, and/or quizzes
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 20% |
Quizzes (Weeks 1-7) | 20% |
Clinical Journaling (Weeks 1-7) | 20% |
Case Study (Week 8) | 20% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Bourgeois, M. (2018). Dementia: Person-Centered Assessment and Intervention. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Psychology Press. ISBN-13: 978-1-138-85991-3
Course Schedule
| Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Topic: Introduction
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2 | 1,2 | Topic: Stages
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3 | 2, 3 | Topic: Communication
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4 | 2, 3 | Topic: Interpersonal Skills
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5 | 1, 2 | Topic: Specific Intervention Skills (ADL's)
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6 | 4 | Topic: Caregiver Needs
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7 | 4 | Topic: Legal and Ethical
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8 | 1-8 | Topic: Reflection |
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Final Exam | |||
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.