Postgraduate Diploma in Care of the Older Person

Module Aims
This module aims to introduce the students to the concept of physiological ageing in comparison with younger adults, differences between physiology and pathology, major presentation of illness in older people and general approach to therapy.

The module encourages weekly discussion where students are presented with two/three clinical case-based scenarios that are reflective of everyday clinical practice and research.

Module Summary

• Physiology of ageing
• Health promotion and Public Health
• Geriatric giants
• Medicine management
• Therapies
• Social issues relating to the older adult; abuse, Deprivation of Liberty (DOLs), mental health, power of attorney, safeguarding

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical and systematic knowledge of the current evidence and practice in the physiology of ageing and care of the older person.
2. Combine therapeutic and social constructs to develop care for older people in complex and unpredictable situations.
3. Demonstrate a high-level understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the care of the elderly discipline into clinical practice.

Module Aims
This module aims to highlight the importance attached to the risk of falls in older people in different environments (community and institution), consequences of falls, holistic assessment of causes, the importance of the multidisciplinary team assessment, plan of prevention and management.

The module will present weekly case-based scenarios to develop knowledge and understanding of the assessment, treatment, prevention and management of falls.

Module Content

• Initial assessment and comprehensive geriatric assessment – CGA
• Pathophysiology of sarcopaenia, bone loss, identification and management
• Falls and fractures
• Osteoporosis, prevention and management
• Fall and fracture prevention and management

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. A critical appreciation of the interplay between the physiology of ageing with falls and fractures, together with the understanding of diagnostic and management strategies.
2. Critically evaluate current research and evidence into the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis and falls.
3. Critically implement the learning and synthesise the evidence into clinical practice to improve care of the elderly who present with falls and osteoporosis.

Module Aims
This module aims to highlight the risk of confusion and cognitive impairment in older people in different settings, differentiating between different types and causes of confusion, acute and chronic cognitive dysfunction, and measures of assessment and management.

This module teaches students how to critically evaluate and selectively differentiate knowledge between alternative presentations and causes of confusion in older people, in a variety of settings. Weekly activities throughout the module aim to develop skills in diagnosis and selection of appropriate care and treatment paths.

Module Content

• Assessment and diagnosis
• Delirium and acute confusion
• Cognitive decline and dementia
• Therapeutic interventions in dementia
• Emerging approaches to the physiology and treatment of dementia
• Depression and anxiety in the older person

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Develop a systematic understanding and critical knowledge of the assessment, classification and management of the older person presenting with memory disorders.
2. Critically evaluate the evidence relating to the diagnosis, investigation and management of delirium, confusion and dementia.
3. An ability to synthesise and translate the critical knowledge and evidence-base for the management of older subjects presenting with confusion and memory issues in clinical practice.

Module Aims
To develop an in-depth and contemporary knowledge of common age-related neurological conditions, TIA (transient ischaemic attack), stroke and causes of syncope. To include approaches to assessment, management and prevention of stroke, myopathies and Parkinson’s disease together with the impact on function and quality of life in older age.

Module Content

• Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) and stroke
• Primary and Secondary stroke prevention
• Muscle disorders: myopathy, MND (motor neurone disease), temporal arteritis, PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica)
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Syncope and pre-syncope

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Critically applies a systematic understanding of stroke, age-related neurological disorders and syncope, presenting in the older subject.
2. An ability to critically evaluate and synthesise the evidence relating to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, investigation and management of the older patient presenting with stroke, age-related neurological disorders and syncope.
3. An ability to analyse, synthesise and relate this knowledge into the care of the older patient presenting with a variety of cerebrovascular and common neuro-muscular disorders.

Module Aims
This module aims to develop an in-depth knowledge of the diagnosis and management of frailty and continence in older people. This will include aetiology, models of assessment, medical and surgical management of frailty, urinary incontinence and constipation in older people.

Module Content

• Definition and pathophysiology of frailty
• Management and prevention of frailty, new horizons in ageing
• Dependency and disability
• Change of bowel habit/function
• Continence and medical conditions in the elderly
• Management of incontinence

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. An ability to critically appraise and understand the evidence relating to the pathophysiology, impact, management and prevention strategies in the care of older people presenting with frailty and continence issues.
2. An ability to critically evaluate the current evidence base for the management and prevention strategies applying to frailty and continence disorders.
3. An ability to synthesise current evidence and critically interpret this into the care of subjects presenting with frailty and continence disorders.

Module Aims
This module provides an in-depth and contemporary knowledge of ethical issues and end-of-life care in the older person. In particular it analyses issues relating to consent to treatment, quality of life and also brings to attention the complex aspects of end-of-life care.

Module Summary

• Safeguarding
• Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
• Advance care planning and ethical considerations
• End-of-life interventions and ethics
• Palliative interventions and ethics
• Withholding treatment, assisted dying and the law

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. An ability to critically understand and synthesise the evidence and legal frameworks relating to ethical dilemmas in relation to mental health and end-of-life care.
2. An ability to critically evaluate and synthesise complex ethical, mental health and end of life care of the elderly patient.
3. Develop an ability to incorporate the knowledge into complex clinical scenarios relating to ethics, mental health and end of life care in the elderly person.