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Explore the principles and practices of Age-Friendly Health Systems, an initiative aimed at improving healthcare for older adults. This section introduces foundational concepts such as the 4Ms Framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, Mobility) developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Discover how these frameworks enhance care quality, safety, and outcomes for older patients through person-centered, evidence-based approaches.

Mentation: Dementia

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and daily functioning. This section, developed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), provides an overview of dementia, its causes, and how it differs from normal aging. Learn about common types of dementia, risk factors, and the importance of early detection and diagnosis.

Learning Objectives

Define dementia and distinguish it from normal age-related cognitive changes.
Identify common types of dementia and their early signs, symptoms, and risk factors.
Explain the importance of early diagnosis and available treatment or management strategies.

Caring for Older Patients With Cognitive Impairment

Caring for older adults with cognitive impairment requires a person-centered approach that addresses their unique medical, emotional, and social needs. This section, developed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), provides healthcare professionals with strategies for recognizing cognitive decline, effective communication techniques, and best practices for supporting both patients and their caregivers. It also emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, care planning, and multidisciplinary collaboration to enhance patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives

Identify key signs of cognitive impairment and understand the importance of early recognition and diagnosis.
Implement effective communication and care strategies to support older adults with cognitive impairment and their caregivers.
Apply person-centered and multidisciplinary approaches to care planning that promote quality of life and functional independence.

The Positive Physical Approach

This short yet impactful video features dementia care expert Teepa Snow demonstrating effective ways to approach and interact with individuals living with dementia. Using her Positive Approach to Care® (PAC) techniques, Teepa highlights practical strategies for building trust, reducing distress, and enhancing communication. This video is a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and caregivers seeking to improve their interactions with individuals experiencing cognitive decline.

Learning Objectives

Describe key elements of Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care® (PAC) and its benefits in dementia care.
Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to enhance interactions with individuals living with dementia.
Apply person-centered strategies to reduce anxiety, build trust, and promote cooperation in dementia care settings.

The Dice Approach

The DICE Approach is a structured, evidence-based method for assessing and managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). This section explores how caregivers and healthcare providers can use the DICE model—Describe, Investigate, Create, and Evaluate—to understand and respond to distressing behaviors in a person-centered way recognizing that a behavioral symptom is the persons attempt to communicate with us. Developed to minimize unnecessary medication use and improve quality of life, this approach emphasizes individualized, non-pharmacological interventions.

Learning Objectives

Explain the DICE Approach and its role in managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Apply the Describe, Investigate, Create, and Evaluate framework to develop person-centered, non-pharmacological interventions.
Identify common triggers for behavioral symptoms and strategies to improve care planning and communication.

Support for Caregivers

This resource from the Alzheimer’s Association provides essential guidance, tools, and support for caregivers of individuals living with dementia. It covers topics such as managing daily care, responding to behavioral changes, finding respite services, and accessing support groups to help caregivers navigate their role while maintaining their own well-being.

Learning Objectives

Identify practical strategies for managing the daily care and behavioral changes of individuals with dementia.
Recognize the importance of caregiver self-care and available support services, including respite care and support groups.
Access and utilize Alzheimer’s Association resources to enhance caregiver education, planning, and well-being.

Additional Dementia Reference Resources

Want to learn more about caring for those living with Dementia? See the reference resources below to dig deeper and learn more.

National Healthy Brain Initiative State and Local Road Map

This CDC-led roadmap provides strategies for public health professionals to promote brain health, address dementia, and support caregiving at the state and local levels.

AgingME Training Videos

This collection of training videos from AgingME, Maine’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, offers education on dementia care best practices for healthcare professionals.

GSA KAER Toolkit for Brain Health

Developed by the Gerontological Society of America, this toolkit guides healthcare professionals in Kickstarting, Assessing, Evaluating, and Referring (KAER) patients for cognitive health concerns.

AAFP Cognitive Care Kit

Created by the American Academy of Family Physicians, this resource provides primary care physicians with tools for screening, diagnosing, and managing cognitive impairment in older adults.

Alzheimer's Association: Dementia Care Practice Recommendations

These evidence-based practice recommendations offer guidance on person-centered dementia care across various care settings.

Alzheimer's Association: Cognitive Assessment Toolkit

This toolkit provides validated tools for healthcare providers to assess and monitor cognitive impairment in clinical settings.

HRSA: Train Health Care Workers About Dementia

Offered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), this resource includes training materials to equip healthcare professionals with the skills to provide quality dementia care.

Ageism

Frame of Mind: The Why and How of Reframing Aging

This video, created by the FrameWorks Institute, explores how ageism shapes public perception and the importance of using intentional language to shift the narrative about aging. Through evidence-based communication strategies, viewers learn how to "reframe" aging in a way that promotes dignity, equity, and inclusion for older adults in healthcare, policy, and society at large.

Learning Objectives

Define ageism and explain how implicit bias and negative stereotypes about aging impact individuals and systems.
Describe key framing strategies that promote a more accurate and positive understanding of aging.
Apply communication techniques that support age-inclusive messages in healthcare and community settings.

MCOA: Anti-Ageism Guide - Action

This practical guide from the Maine Council on Aging (MCOA) outlines actionable steps individuals and organizations can take to recognize, challenge, and dismantle ageism. The guide provides real-world examples, self-reflection tools, and strategies for embedding age-positive practices in workplaces, healthcare settings, and communities.

Learning Objectives

Recognize common forms and consequences of ageism across personal, institutional, and systemic levels.
Identify and implement actionable strategies to create age-inclusive environments.
Apply tools for self-reflection and organizational change to interrupt ageist language, policies, and practices.

Global Report on Ageism

Published by the World Health Organization (WHO), this comprehensive global report highlights the widespread impact of ageism on health, well-being, and human rights. It presents compelling evidence on the prevalence and consequences of ageism and outlines strategies for reducing it through policy change, education, and intergenerational interventions.

Learning Objectives

Describe the global scope, drivers, and effects of ageism on individuals and societies.
Summarize evidence-based strategies to combat ageism through policy, education, and social connection.
Recognize the role of health professionals and institutions in promoting age equity and reducing age-based discrimination.

What Matters

How to Have Conversations with Older Adults About “What Matters”: A Guide for Getting Started

This practical guide from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) offers step-by-step strategies to help healthcare providers engage older adults in meaningful conversations about what matters most to them. Rooted in the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework, the guide emphasizes person-centered care planning through active listening, relationship-building, and documentation of preferences to inform treatment and care decisions.

Learning Objectives

Explain the importance of understanding “What Matters” to older adults as part of the 4Ms Framework in Age-Friendly Health Systems.
Apply techniques for initiating and guiding person-centered conversations that elicit older adults' values, goals, and care preferences.
Integrate “What Matters” findings into care planning and documentation to align clinical decisions with the individual’s priorities.

My Health Priorities

This interactive tool helps older adults identify and communicate their health priorities by guiding them through a step-by-step reflection on what matters most to them in life and health care. Developed with input from patients and clinicians, the tool is designed to support shared decision-making by aligning care plans with each individual’s values, preferences, and goals.

Learning Objectives

Describe how the My Health Priorities tool supports older adults in identifying and articulating their health goals.
Facilitate the use of the tool to promote shared decision-making and person-centered care in clinical practice.
Integrate individuals’ stated health priorities into ongoing care planning and interdisciplinary team communication.

The Conversation Project

The Conversation Project, initiated by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), aims to encourage individuals and families to have open discussions about their end-of-life preferences and wishes. It emphasizes the importance of planning ahead and having meaningful conversations with loved ones and healthcare providers.

Learning Objectives

Encourage Conversations: Inspire individuals and families to talk openly about what matters most to them at the end of life.
Provide Practical Tools: Offer accessible resources to guide and support effective advance care planning.
Ensure Wishes Are Honored: Promote understanding and documentation of end-of-life preferences to align care with individuals’ values.

The categories below are coming soon!

Caregiver Support

To be updated!

Medications

To be updated!

Mentation: Delirium

To be updated!

Mentation: Depression

To be updated!

Mobility

To be updated!

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