Continuing Education Classes

Consultant Pharmacist Nick Lewis teaches this class. In this class, you will learn the difference between normal aging, potential adverse drug effects and signs of dementia. The common types of dementia and symptoms will be discussed, and examples of cognitive tests used in diagnosing will be shared. A pharmacist will discuss the medications available to treat dementia and the drawbacks. Everyone will benefit from the tips for coping as a caregiver.

Consultant Pharmacist Carey Bernt teaches this class. Join this class to understand the scope and impact of medication overload in older adults. Understand the drivers of polypharmacy, including the prescribing cascade, and the risks. In this class, a pharmacist will review how deprescribing guidelines can assist with medication reduction to safely meet life's changes. Learn about interventions you can take as a non-prescriber to address the problem and reduce the potential for harm.

Consultant Pharmacist Nate Hedin teaches this class. Dementia poses unique challenges in pain management due to communication barriers and altered pain perception. This session aims to provide attendees with practical, resident-centered strategies to effectively assess and treat pain in this vulnerable population using both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.

Consultant Pharmacist Becky Mason teaches this class. RLS is a condition that can severely affect older adults. In this session you will learn about this disorder and the common signs and symptoms that lead to a diagnosis. There will be review of lifestyle changes that may provide relief for mild-moderate cases. Learn about the medications that are used to treat RLS and the cautions with use.

Consultant Pharmacist Karen Erinmwingbovo teaches this class. Did you know that falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults?  It is not surprising that medications are a key factor that can increase the risk for falls, especially in older adults. In this course, you will learn which classes of medications or FRIDS (Fall Risk Increasing Drugs) may be responsible. Learn from a pharmacist some medication management strategies for FRIDS and how to develop a plan that includes medication changes and a monitoring plan for potential side effects. Guidance will be provided on implementing other strategies, including non-pharmacologic options to manage conditions and reduce fall risk.  Regardless of your practice setting or role, this education will be valuable to help keep older adults safe and minimize fall risk.

Nurse Consultant William Paulus teaches this class. Have you heard the phrase, "If it wasn't documented, it wasn't done"? In long-term care there is a great deal of responsibility when it comes to documentation. It is the primary way to demonstrate what we did, for whom, when and with what effects. In this session, you will learn from a nurse the basics around documentation and medication storage, which are both essential components of a safe medication management system.

Consultant Pharmacist Nate Hedin teaches this class. Urinary tract infections are the most common infections in nursing home residents and often treated with antibiotics. Learn when the use of antibiotics may be unnecessary and increase the risk of harm. In this class, the elements of antibiotic stewardship will be reviewed. Regardless of your role in a facility, there are actions you can take to help reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance and to improve outcomes for residents.

Consultant Pharmacist Hilary Hiles teaches this class. Insomnia is a prevalent problem in late life. Sleep problems in the elderly are often mistakenly considered a normal part of aging. Insomnia is typically undertreated, and nonpharmacologic interventions are underused by health care practitioners. In this session, learn about causes of insomnia, the impact of sleep impairment and approaches to treatment. You will hear from a pharmacist what the benefits and risks are of sedatives or other treatments.

Consultant Pharmacist Becky Bertram teaches this class. Depression is a serious mood disorder. It can affect the way you feel, act, and think. Depression is a common problem among older adults, but clinical depression is not a normal part of aging. Several treatment options are available to treat those diagnosed with Depressive Disorder. Learn from a pharmacist what medications are appropriate for older adults and how they are selected. Discuss when more than one antidepressant may be justified and when it might be appropriate to ask the prescriber about discontinuing an antidepressant.

Consultant Pharmacist Ceclilia Engstrom teaches this class. The practice of crushing medications is common practice for residents with swallowing difficulties. Learn how to evaluate when it is safe to modify the form of medication. Altering some medications can pose a risk to both residents and nursing staff. In this session, a pharmacist will review the best clinical practices for safely crushing medications and offer guidance for alternatives.

Consultant Pharmacist Kelcey Delach teaches this class. The "Beers List" of medications is mistakenly viewed by some as a "stop sign" to certain medications in ALL older adults. The list should instead serve as a "yield sign" to proceed cautiously, as these medications may have an unfavorable balance of harm versus benefit. The course will provide guidance on how the Beers List was intended to be used and recommendations for implementing the list in that manner. Learn the role a medication aide can take to keep residents safe with potentially inappropriate medication use.