Course content

The course will focus on quality and safety related to the complexity of the elderly's health and disease image, with a special focus on dementia and age psychiatric disorders, as well as giving the students profound knowledge in interdisciplinary thinking and approach.

Current topics are:

• biological, psychological and social aspects of dementia and age psychiatric disorders, including mastering resources and strategies
• neurodegenerative disorders; different forms, symptoms and consequences
• neuropsychiatric symptoms with mild cognitive impairment and various degrees / types of dementia
• the most common mental disorders in the elderly with a focus on depression, anxiety and suicide
• use of drugs and possible consequences
• medicines and drug treatment of elderly with and without dementia
• principles and theories for the treatment and care of people with dementia-like conditions and age psychiatric disorders
• interdisciplinary cooperation and interaction between different levels of service for investigation, action and follow-up
• relatives and volunteer organizations as resource and collaborators
• dementia-friendly society, including various housing and housing forms and organization in society
• mapping and assessment, including the use of relevant mapping tools
• assessment of consent competence
• care philosophy and ideology in dementia care
• person-centered care as theory and concept
• environmental work and function supporting measures

Learning outcome

After completing the course the student will:

Knowledge

• have advanced knowledge of various neurodegenerative conditions, depression and other common mental disorders and their form of expression and possible consequences in older years
• have in-depth knowledge of interdisciplinary thinking, cooperation and interaction at different levels of health and care services and between these levels and tasks to optimize Investigation and follow-up
• have in-depth knowledge of experiences, reactions and coping strategies in elderly people with dementia and/or age psychiatric disorders and their relatives

Skills

• be able to analyze and explain adequate measures based on systematic mapping and knowledge retrieval to assist elderly persons with mental disorders, cognitive failure and dementia
• be able to implement and evaluate various forms of person-centered care and environmental therapy

General competence

• have an individual, resource and participatory perspective on their service to elderly people with different dementia conditions and age psychiatric disorders and their relatives
• identify and analyze professional and ethical challenges related to clinical practice and organization of health and social services for the elderly with dementia and mental disorders

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, home assignments and group work

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

The course requires admission to the study program (SPVIDAEHS).

Course materials

To be announced.