Diagnosing Dementia

For a complete list of accreditations for this course, please see the accreditation information box below the author’s bio.  All states recognize our courses for accredited continuing nursing education, CNE, contact hours.

Every 68 seconds another American develops Alzheimer's disease. Education and training in dementia care for health care staff has been identified as a priority by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease (NPAAD) developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has set as a goal enhanced care quality and efficiency for the Alzheimer’s and dementia population. High-quality care should be provided from the point of diagnosis onward in settings including doctor’s offices, hospitals, people’s homes and nursing homes. Care quality should be measured accurately and coupled with quality improvement tools. This instructional course has been designed for nurses, activity therapists, nursing assistants and other healthcare staff who are or may be caring for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Knowledge of dementia is critical for providing the specialized care that this disease requires. Therefore, education related specifically to the various dementias is critical for effective care for this population.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. List three early symptoms of Dementia.
2. List 4 different behaviors that may be observed in Dementia patients.
3. List three medical conditions that can lead to Dementia.
4. List the three criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment.
5. List three methods of diagnosing Dementia.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Correlates of Dementia

• Behavioral
• Normal vs. Abnormal Aging
• Physiological

Chapter 2: Diagnostic Considerations

• MCI vs. Dementia
• Assessment Methods
• Neuroimaging

Chapter 3: Resources