PTA 201 Physical Therapy and the Older Adult

This course is designed to facilitate understanding of older adults and their needs and to promote concepts of successful aging based on the physical therapy interventions. Dementia, pharmacology, fall prevention, and the PTA’s role in the team approach to providing quality care for the older adult will be examined.

Credits

2

Prerequisite

Admission into the PTA Program; second-year student required

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Identify factors that are part of the aging process that may contribute to or are barriers to an older adult's participation in the plan of care as determined by the PT
2. Evaluate the role of the PT and PTA in assessing how drugs and age-related changes affect mobility and movement safety in the older adult
3. Analyze how common health conditions, physical, cognitive and psychosocial factors encountered in the elderly inform PTA clinical reasoning and judgment when working with older adults
4. Analyze social norms and stigmas that impact access and rights and dignity of geriatric clients including abuse, ageism and infantilizing geriatric clients. Identify specific mental health challenges not uncommon in the older adult population
5. Develop and understand that older adult caregiver capabilities require ongoing assessment and often require adjustments to the plan of care as directed by the physical therapist
6. Identify possible environmental factors that may affect the older adult’s independence and how to address and communicate these factors effectively within the healthcare team
7. Use technology appropriately, efficiently, and effectively for course assignments, and creating instructional materials for older adults
8. Develop a strong ‘person first’ vocabulary and holistic view of the older adult, their caregivers and families and learn the value of developing strong working relationships with the family and other support systems
9. Apply principles of person first language and patient centered language to instruct patients and educate care-givers related to older adults needs and experiences in rehabilitation
10. Effectively and safely apply industry standard balance interventions in a simulated assessment and use evidence based practice to support intervention. Provide a home exercise to an older adult with sensory deficits addressing strength or balance impairments specific to older adults
11. Demonstrate the incorporation of principles of learning when working with peers and simulation of educating others, including older adults and their family members
12. Identify and apply skills that can be utilized to support and enhance a geriatric client’s participation in the physical therapy plan of care including rapport and optimizing health based on patient health condition and prior and current best practice theories
13. Select and apply effective and safe interventions with respect to complex functional and cognitive limitations specific to older adults
14. Examine and reflect on the inter-professional roles and responsibilities of the healthcare team in order to effectively support the health, wellness, and optimal movement for older adults