Geriatrics CME Courses

Mental Function and Cognition in the Elderly Stephen E. Nadeau, Robert J. Cohen Select appropriate drugs to optimize mental function in elderly patients; Identify causes of cognitive impairment such as depression and sleep disorders; Approach patients with behavioral changes associated with dementia; Differentiate dementia from delirium and Alzheimer’s disease; and Use effective screening tools to identify cognitive impairment.

 

As Men Age Thomas M. Mulligan and Christopher J. Kane Explain the pathophysiology of hypogonadism in the aging man; List the risks and benefits of testosterone replacement therapy in older men; Assess the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with BPH; Discuss the use of saw palmetto in the treatment of men with LUTS suggestive of BPH; and Compare the pharmacologic options for treating men with BPH.

 

Osteoporosis in Older Women: Practical Approaches Michele F. Bellantoni and Colleen Christmas Assess patients for risk factors for osteoporosis; Interpret dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scores to determine bone mineral density (BMD); Cite the World Health Organization definitions of osteopenia and osteoporosis; Discuss the Unites Preventative Task Force and National Osteoporosis Foundation screening guidelines and recommendations; and Implement optimal prevention and treatment strategies for patients at risk for, or with established, osteoporosis.

 

Geriatric Concerns Roy Ziegelstein, Samuel C. Durso, and Robert P. RocaAssess the level of frailty and life expectancy in elderly patients when considering preventative cardiology; Counsel frail patients about the risks and benefits of exercise and medications; List short- and long-term risks of diabetes in patients in long-term care facilities; Choose effective treatments for diabetes, based on patients’ individual preferences and needs; and Evaluate findings from major studies, such as the Sequenced Treatment Alternative to Relieve Depressions (STAR*D) trial.

 

Concerns of the Elderly Jennifer A. Heller, Danelle Cayea, and K. Eric DeJonge Evaluate patients with chronic venous insufficiency of the legs; Describe conservative and surgical treatment for patients with venous insufficiency; Advise women in their 80s in the benefits and risks of screening mammography; Explain the benefits and risks of cancer screening in older people; and Manage the elderly surgical patient with medical comorbidities.

  

Matters of the Mind Jeffrey L. Cummings and Robert M. Howse Test critical areas of mental status to diagnose dementia; Describe appropriate laboratory tests and imaging studies for diagnosing and distinguishing the various dementias; Discuss protective factors and newer treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease; Identify and prevent progression of mild cognitive impairment; and Differentiate Parkinson’s disease with dementia from dementia with Lewy bodies.

 

Special Issues in Aging Tamara L. Wall and Daniel D. Sewell Describe how the use and effects of alcohol differ in people of different ages; Assess alcohol use in older people and recommend appropriate treatment; State the myths associated sexual activity among older individuals; Discuss sex comfortably in patients, especially older couples; and Discuss the ways in which dementia in one partner can affect the sexual intimacy of couples.

 

Geriatric Psychiatry: Anxiety and Exercise Julie L. Wetherell and George Dawson Recognize many of the myths about anxiety in older persons; Discuss the comorbidity of anxiety disorders in older persons; Compare pharmacology and psychotherapy as treatments for anxiety disorders in older persons; Cite evidence that exercise has positive effects on the central nervous system; and Suggest an exercise regimen that I within the abilities of an older person.

 

Dementia/Long-Term Care Mark Kritchevsky and John W. Daly Identify the six most common causes of dementia in the elderly; Enumerate some of the less common causes of dementia; and Evaluate some of the less common causes of dementia; Evaluate the patient with suspected dementia; Describe the varieties of long-term care facilities and the levels of services they offer; and Discuss the patients who are suitable or not suitable for admission to residential care facilities for the elderly.