Common Medical Comorbidities in Older Adults

Training Description:

Our population is aging. By 2060, there will be approximately 90 million people living in the United States over the age of 65 and people of color will comprise close to half of these older adults. Regardless of the setting, most mental health providers will be treating older adults. This series of older adults is broken into 3 parts: Cognitive health and resilience, cognitive impairment and safety, and common psychiatric issues in older adults. We will discuss healthy aging and cognitive resilience strategies, including tips for aging well. We will then discuss cognitive impairment and dementia including initial evaluation, screening, and common safety issues. Lastly, we will discuss some common psychiatric disorders in older adults.

The goal of this training is to increase the abilities of crisis care teams and behavioral health clinicians to recognize mental health conditions in older adults, how presentations/treatment differs from other populations, and to consider the unique needs related to caring for these patients for behavioral and emotional concerns and during behavioral health crises. The presenter will also highlight the importance of understanding cognitive impairment/dementia and how that can affect presentation and safety.

Training Objectives:

After participating in this training participants will be able to:

1. List key components of normal aging
2. Describe the concepts of medical and social frailty
3. Describe the basics of cognitive impairment
4. Explain strategies for healthy aging
5. Apply effective communication techniques for difficult discussions with older adults and caregivers
6. Describe some common psychiatric disorders in older adults

Continuing Education Credits:

Discipline	Approval Statement
Licensed Social Worker	This program has been approved for 1 Social Work Continuing Education hours for re-licensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D 92241.
Licensed Psychologist	CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content. For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact Berkshire AHEC at hbruno@berkshireahec.org. For questions about CE, contact Spiritual Competency Academy at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com. 1 CE Hour(s).
MA Licensed Mental Health Counselor	This program has been approved for 1 Category I MaMHCA hours for re-licensure in accordance with 262 CMR. MEACP Authorization 24-0695.
MA Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor	This course has been approved by the Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services/LADC Unit for 1 contact hours for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors and Assistants.
MA Registered Nurse	Program meets the requirements for nursing contact hours as specified by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing 244 CMR 5.04
MA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist	This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions, for LMFT professional continuing education. Certification PC- 042467.