PT/PTA: The course will be submitted to the MN Board of PT for approval and is pending approval at this time (Submitting credits through the MN Board of PT does not guarantee full credits will be approved by the board)

OT/OTA: You will receive a certificate of course completion with total CE contact hours. M HEALTH
Fairview is no longer an approved provider through AOTA and has never been for distance learning.
You may still submit the hours towards your licensure and receive a certificate of completion with all
information to submit. For additional information about CE requirements for license, please see MN Statute 148.6443: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/148.644

SLP: Satisfactory Completion: Participants must attend the in-person portion of the course and complete the course evaluation, including the intent to change statement, within 30 days to receive a certificate of completion. If the course is not attended in full, the CE hours on the certificate will be adjusted accordingly. Participants who do not attend the course in full cannot participate in the ASHA CE registry. 

ASHA CE Registry Submission: This course will be registered through ASHA for full course participation. During the course evaluation, if you participate in the ASHA CE Registry, you may request to receive ASHA CEUs for this course and provide your ASHA number. We will then automatically submit your CEU information to the ASHA CE Registry after successful course completion and full attendance.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation Fees will apply

Instructor:

Nicole Dawson, PT, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Division of Physical Therapy of the College of Health Professions and Sciences at the University of Central Florida and Director of the ALIVEÔ (Aging & Longevity Initiatives for Vitality & Enrichment) Lab at UCF. Dr. Dawson is a Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapist Emeritus with over 20 years of clinical experience along with a PhD in Adult Development & Aging Psychology from Cleveland State University. She has been recognized for excellence in her field by the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy through receipt of the Distinguished Educator Award, the American Physical Therapy Association being awarded the Margaret L. Moore Outstanding New Academic Faculty Award, and the University of Central Florida with the Teaching Incentive Program Award. Her current area of research includes developing non-pharmacological interventions to improve functional and psychosocial outcomes in older adults with chronic disease including those with dementia, gaining a better understanding of the disability experience as well as training and development of the eldercare workforce. Dr. Dawson has been published in peer-reviewed journals including The Gerontologist, Dementia, and the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy. Her consulting company, Golden Age Consultants, aims to facilitate the successful aging of older adults. She trains allied health professionals through continuing education and has presented at numerous international and national conferences about aging and geriatric rehabilitation. 

Course Description:

Roughly one-third of all hospitalized patients may experience delirium with the highest rates seen in intensive care units (ICU) where it can reach 80%. Rehabilitation is an integral part of an older adult’s return to the optimal functional level of independence following an injury or illness. Patients with impaired cognition pose unique challenges to rehabilitation professionals. Severe deficits in attention, judgment, memory, communication, and language are common these patients. It is commonly thought that patients with impaired cognition cannot benefit from rehabilitation services because of behaviors, lack of communication, or difficulties in learning. However, the current literature demonstrates that this is not case, but it is up to us as the rehabilitation professionals to understand how to exploit the strengths and abilities of these individuals to help meet our goals.

The current course will provide you with a better understanding of cognitive aging as well as differential diagnosis when cognition is impaired. It will distinguish between reversible dementias (e.g., delirium) and irreversible dementias (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease and other related dementias) as well as progression of each. Barriers to treatment will be discussed along with best practice and evidence-based approaches to overcome these challenges to improve functional outcomes for these patients. This workshop will aid clinicians in utilization of effective strategies to maximize patient outcomes as well as integrating the interdisciplinary team in goal setting and plan of care development. Understanding the use of a strength-based approach will be emphasized to help you and your staff better treat this growing group of challenging patients.

Learning Outcomes:

• • Describe the difference between normal and pathological aging.
  • Distinguish the different types of dementia and their symptomology.
  • Recognize the progression of dementia and appropriate treatment goals for each stage.
  • Contrast differences between strength-based approach and traditional medical model.
  • Evaluate remaining strengths and domains requiring compensation in patients with dementia.
  • Outline current evidenced-based interventions and best practices in literature.
  • Utilize effective communication strategies and person-centered care to maximize outcomes

Agenda:

Day 1: 8:00-4:30 pm

7:30-8:00 am           Registration/Continental Breakfast

8:00-9:30 am           Background and Introduction

9:30-9:45 am           BREAK

9:45-12:00 pm         Differential Diagnosis

12:00-1:00 pm         LUNCH (On your own)

1:00-2:45 pm           Assessment and Evaluation of Dementia (reversible, irreversible)

2:45-3:00 pm           BREAK

3:00-4:30 pm           Strength-based Approach to Rehabilitation and Q & A

Day 2: 8:00-2:30 pm
8:00-9:30 am    Strength-based Approach to Rehabilitation, Continued

9:30-9:45 am      BREAK

9:45-11:45 am    Treatment Strategies to Facilitate Successful outcomes

11:45-12:45 pm   LUNCH (On your own)

12:45-1:30 pm     Case Studies, problem solving, scenarios

1:30-1:45 pm       BREAK

1:45-2:30 pm       Case Studies, continued and Q & A

 REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE (Live in Person Course April 26-27)

REGISTER FOR ZOOM Q&A (Follow up course Wednesday June 11, 2025, 5-6PM)