Home Study: The 3 D’s Differentiating Depression, Delirium, and Dementia to improve treatment outcomes in the older adult patient

Title: The 3 D’s: Differentiating Depression, Delirium, and Dementia to improve treatment outcomes in the older adult patient.

Objectives:

1)    Participants will be able to define how the population growth of older adults is affecting the increase in health conditions both acute and chronic

2)    Participants will be able to define Delirium, Delusion, and Dementia

3)    Participants will be educated about current interventions

Continuing Education Clock Hour 1.0

Author: Kelsey Loushin, LICDC-CS, CDP

The growth of the older adult population (considered age 65 and older) in the United States is unprecedented. By the year 2030, 72 million Americans will reach

the age of 65, statistically, 1 in 5 adults. Contributing factors to increased life expectancies include medical and technological advancements improving the treatment and care for chronic health conditions, lifestyle improvements for adults including opportunities for leisure and hospitality activities, educational opportunities to maintain and promote cognitive skills, increased effective public health strategies, access to resources for wellness promotion and fitness programs and workplace advancements reducing physical challenges once brought about by predominantly hard physical labor.  Longer life expectancies have regrettably resulted in increased incidences of illnesses historically far less common. Examples include certain types of cancer occurring with later age onsets such as multiple myeloma and prostate. Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease and Dementia’s caused through diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body and Vascular Disease.