DWI-1001bs. Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease for Behavioral Sciences

8 CE Contact Hours
Course Duration: Self-paced (estimated completion time 8 hours)

This course meets the qualifications for 8 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Provider approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Provider Number 41597.

Author

Wendy J. Stone, PsyD, MFT, RN, is a Doctor of Psychology, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. Dr. Stone has more than 35 years of experience serving patients in a variety of roles, including nursing, marriage/family counseling, education, and psychiatric care. Dr. Stone currently provides psychological counseling for a variety of patient profiles both in-person and via videoconferencing. She is also a seasoned medical administrator and professional trainer and educator. As the author of an expanding portfolio of professional education and self-help materials, Dr. Stone continues to increase the range of her service to patients, professionals, and the community at large.

Course Description

This course provides healthcare professionals with an understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. It covers the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management strategies for Alzheimer’s disease, as well as patient and caregiver support strategies, ethical considerations, and relevant information resources. The course also includes a discussion of implicit bias in the practice of LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs, and RNs and its impact on the quality of care.

Educational Goals

This course is designed to enhance healthcare professionals’ knowledge and competencies in understanding, diagnosing, and managing Alzheimer’s disease. It aims to improve patient outcomes by providing evidence-based strategies for treatment, caregiver support, and ethical decision-making. Additionally, the course addresses implicit bias in healthcare and its impact on the quality of care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

By participating in this course, learners will:

Gain a basic understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease.
Develop the ability to recognize clinical features and apply diagnostic criteria to identify Alzheimer’s disease.
Improve awareness of implicit bias in healthcare and its influence on patient care and decision-making.
Learn about current treatment modalities and management strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.
Enhance their ability to support patients and caregivers through effective communication and resource allocation.
Understand the responsibilities of their specific role in caring for Alzheimer’s patients and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Apply ethical principles to decision-making in the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
Stay informed on the latest research developments and advancements in Alzheimer’s care.

Measurable Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Identify the age group particularly affected by Alzheimer’s disease in the United States.
List the diagnostic criteria for probable Alzheimer’s disease according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Name the 7 diagnostic methods typically used in combination to rule out other causes and confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Name the 6 common co-morbidities often associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
List the 9 principles of person-centered care.
Name the 12 primary ethical dilemmas in Alzheimer’s care.
Identify the 4 areas of self-care important for maintaining caregiver well-being.

Course Outline

Lesson 1. Introduction to Alzheimer’s disease (20 minutes)

Definition
Primary symptoms

Lesson 2. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic criteria (30 minutes)

Major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease
Mild neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease

Lesson 3. Diagnostic methods (40 minutes)

Overview of dementia and its types
Diagnostic procedures
Progression and stages of the disease
General progression

Lesson 4. Clinical manifestations (35 minutes)

Early stage (mild Alzheimer’s)
Middle stage (moderate Alzheimer’s)
Late stage (severe Alzheimer’s)

Lesson 5. Common co-morbidities and complications (40 minutes)

Common co-morbidities
Common complications
Managing co-morbidities and complications

Lesson 6. Implicit Bias (25 minutes)

Definition of implicit bias
Definition of explicit bias
Comparison of implicit and explicit bias
Impact of implicit bias
Strategies to cope with implicit bias

Lesson 7. Management and support (35 minutes)

Pharmacological interventions and their mechanisms of action
Non-pharmacological interventions

Lesson 8. Care strategies for healthcare professionals (30 minutes)

Person-centered care principles
Implicit bias challenges
Communication strategies
Managing challenging behaviors

Lesson 9. Ethical and legal issues (30 minutes)

Ethical dilemmas in Alzheimer’s care
Legal considerations and patient rights
Practical steps for safeguarding patient rights
Implicit bias
Practical steps for mitigating implicit bias

Lesson 10. The roles of LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs (30 minutes)

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs)
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs)
Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEPs)
Registered Nurses (RNs)
The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in Alzheimer’s Care

Lesson 11. Care strategies for caregivers (30 minutes)

Lesson 12. Teaching self-care strategies to caregivers (25 minutes)

Physical self-care
Maintaining well-being
Creative and recreational self-care
Mindful self-care to avoid implicit bias

Lesson 13.Resources for healthcare professionals (25 minutes)

National and international organizations
Research and clinical databases
Specific research and updates
Academic journals and publications
Guidance on implicit bias

Lesson 14. Resources and support for caregivers (20 minutes)

National and international organizations
Local resources
Online support networks
Educational resources
Respite care services
Guidance on implicit bias

Lesson 15. Current research and future directions (20 minutes)

New drug developments
Diagnostic advances
Ongoing research and future prospects

Final Test (45 minutes)

Comprehensive test covering all topics in the syllabus — passing grade (70%) is required for Certificate of Completion

How to Take This Course

Review the course material for each lesson and take the lesson quiz. Each quiz will be reviewed upon submission to show the correct and incorrect answers. The correct answers for incorrect responses are provided to aid in effective deep learning.
Review the graded quiz results for the lesson and note your correct and incorrect answers.
Revisit the sections in the lesson pertaining to your incorrect answers and when you are comfortable that you understand the material, retake the quiz. You may take lesson quizzes as many times as necessary until you feel that you have mastered the material.
Lesson quizzes do not count toward course completion.
When you have completed all lessons in the course, access the Final Test section and take the test. You may review all of your answers while you are working on the Final Test, but once you submit your answers, you will not be able to change them.
The Final Test will be graded immediately. A score of 70% correct answers is required for a Certificate of Completion.
If you do not achieve a 70% score on the first attempt, you may retake the Final Test up to two more times (a total of 3 attempts). It is highly recommended that you review the lessons related to your incorrect answers before you retake the Final Test.
You will be invited to download your Certificate of Completion upon achieving a 70% score or higher on the Final Test and completing the Course Evaluation.