Course Description:

It may seem that older patients do not learn as well as younger patients. However, research supports older adults have the same capacity to learn new skills as younger adults. Rehabilitation therapists can create effective interventions based on the science of the aging brain and learn to help their patients achieve optimal outcomes. This course discusses the typical age-related changes in cognitive performance (i.e., thinking, learning, and memory) and how to modify your interventions, goal setting, and plan of care based on these changes. A series of case studies models how to apply these concepts when working with patients in home health, skilled nursing, and outpatient settings.