What You’ll Learn

Gain an overview of the experience of living with dementia and learn how to relieve distress for patients with dementia, and their caregivers.

Learning outcomes for this course include:

  1. Describe important attributes of dementia, including its prevalence, burden, trajectory, prognosis, and treatments.
  2. Identify common sources of distress associated with dementia, and strategies to address them.
  3. Discuss the evidence base related to medically administered nutrition and hydration in dementia care.

What You’ll Earn

Only CAPC members who are logged in can earn the following free Continuing Education Credits:

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • Case Management: 1.00 CE
  • Nursing: 1.00 CNE
  • Social Work: 1.00 CE (NYSED)

Social work credits are approved by the New York State Education Department. Social workers licensed outside of New York should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits.

To take this course, log in. Or, check here to see if your organization is a member.

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1

Take the course

2

Take the post-test

3

Complete evaluation

4

Download your certificate

Tools & Resources

Course 1 Key Takeaways: Relieving Distress for People Living With Dementia, and Their Caregivers
MEMBERS ONLY locked

Key Takeaways for Course 1 of the Best Practices in Dementia Care and Caregiver Support Unit.

Course References: Relieving Distress for People Living With Dementia, and Their Caregivers
MEMBERS ONLY locked

Course citations. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2024.

Functional Assessment Staging Tool - FAST scale.pdf

A tool to assess functional assessment.

The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS)

Stages of cognitive function for those suffering from a degenerative dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.

Pain Assessment IN Advanced Dementia Scale (PAINAD)

Tool to assess pain in cognitively impaired patients.

Fast Fact #84: Swallow Studies, Tube Feeding, and the Death Spiral

Approaches for addressing nutrition at the end of life

The Impact of Music and Memory on Resident Level Outcomes in California Nursing Homes

A journal article about a study of the effects of a nonpharmacologic intervention, Music and Memory (M&M), on residents with dementia and/or behavioral problems living in nursing homes.

Cognitive Assessment & Care Plan Services

Information about billing for assessment and care planning services for individuals who are cognitively impaired.

Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

Annual report released by the Alzheimer's Association, reveals the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation's health care system.

Implementing Best Practices in Dementia Care

Training clinicians to support people with dementia and their caregivers, and guidance for quality improvement initiatives.

Physicians

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CME Released: 7/15/2024; Valid for credit through 2/15/2026

Estimated Time of Completion for CME: 60 minutes

ABIM MOC Recognition Statement

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn 1.0 MOC credit in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC credits equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for this activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Physician Assistants

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai designates this enduring material with 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as specified, which can be applied to the continuing education of Physician Assistants. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses (Registered Nurses, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Licensed Nurses)

This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by Connecticut Nurses’ Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

CNE Released: 7/15/2024; Valid for credit through 7/15/2026.

Estimated Time of Completion / CNE Contact Hours: 60 minutes / Contact Hours 1.0

Social Workers

Center to Advance Palliative Care SW CPE #0257 is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers effective 7/15/2024 - 7/31/2027. This program has been approved for 1.0 continuing education contact hours.

Members who complete courses for social work contact hours will receive a certificate from NYSED that may be submitted to their licensing institution for continuing education credit consideration. Social workers licensed outside of NY should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits for courses without national social work accreditation.

Certified Case Managers

This program is approved by The Commission for Case Manager Certification (Approval # 240002069) to provide 1.0 continuing education credit(s) to CCM® board certified case managers, effective 7/15/2024 - 7/15/2025.

Verification of Attendance (VOA)

All users that are not eligible for continuing education will receive a Verification of Attendance certificate upon completion of the course.

Faculty Disclosure Policy

It is the policy of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) to ensure objectivity, balance, independence, transparency, and scientific rigor in all CME-accredited educational activities. All faculty participating in the planning or implementation of an activity accredited by ISMMS are expected to disclose all of their financial relationships with ineligible companies existing within the prior 24 months. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated and disclosed to learners before the activity takes place. Presenters must also make a meaningful disclosure to the audience of their discussion of unlabeled or unapproved drugs or devices. This information will be available as part of the course material.

Course Media Instructions

Software Requirements: CAPC’s online curriculum, tools and technical assistance are designed to be fully compatible through multiple platforms: computer, smartphone (iOS or Android) or tablet running the following web browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

Content: Each course is comprised of interactive learning components (articles, tools, or supporting materials), video and audio. The learner will be expected to complete various interactive processes such as matching, simulated clinical decision-making, fill in the blanks, and highlighting content.

To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity online, receive a minimum score of 80% on the post-test, and complete the course evaluation. A printable certificate of completion or a continuing award document specific to the discipline will be awarded.

Target Audience: Each program is developed for chaplains/spiritual counselors, nurses, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, case managers, palliative care program leaders, and healthcare leaders (hospital, health system and community care).

Activity Description/Statement of Needs: CAPC’s online curriculum provides training in two critical areas. Technical assistance courses are designed to help palliative care program leaders address key challenges such as implementing palliative care in community health care settings. Clinical coursework provides fundamental training in pain and symptom management, communication, and other key skills needed to work with patients with serious illness.

Disclaimers: The opinions expressed in the courses are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the sponsor, the educational partner, or the supporter. Please review complete prescribing information of specific drugs or combination of drugs, including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.

Activities do not contain information on commercial products/devices that are unlabeled for use or investigational uses of products not yet approved.

Copyright Information: All rights reserved by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). No materials may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews.

Privacy Information: To read CAPC’s privacy policy, click here.

Dave Carper, MDiv, BCC. Counseling Resource Officer, Bluegrass Care Navigators

Constance Dahlin, MSN, ANP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN. Consultant, Center to Advance Palliative Care

Maribeth Gallagher, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FAAN. Dementia Program Director, Hospice of the Valley

Macie P. Smith, Ed.D, LBSW, SW-G. Diversified Training Consultants Group

Eric Widera, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco

Margaret Colbert, LMSW, Inpatient Social Worker, Mount Sinai West

Kesha Graham, LISW-CP, ACM-SW. Palliative Care Clinical Social Worker, Medical University of South Carolina

Sherika Newman, DO. Founding CEO, Doctor in the Family, LLC*

Caroline Taverna, LMSW, Palliative Care Social Work Fellow, Mount Sinai Beth Israel

*indicates ABIM Peer Reviewer

Contact information: For answers to frequently asked questions about CAPC courses, read the Online Course FAQ. For technical questions about course activity, email [email protected]. For questions about continuing education credits, contact 201-957-0077.

Provided by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Discussing a Diagnosis of Dementia With Your Patient

Course 2 of 8

Learn how to discuss a dementia diagnosis with patients and caregivers in a way that is sensitive, clear, and supportive.

Communicating What to Expect Throughout the Trajectory of Dementia

Course 3 of 8

Learn techniques for supportive communication with people living with dementia, and their caregivers, to help them prepare for the challenges they may face as dementia progresses.

Planning for the Future After a Dementia Diagnosis

Course 4 of 8

Learn how to facilitate future planning discussions with people living with dementia, and their caregivers.

View all courses in the unit

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