Course Description:

The worldwide population is aging, and diagnosed cases of dementia are on the rise. Appropriate dementia care often includes a focus not only on the patient, but also on the family. This course, based on four recent peer-reviewed open-access articles, provides Rehab professionals with current information on topics focused on this vital aspect of care. The first article examines differing approaches to understanding personhood and discusses ways of approaching care for the person with dementia that may limit the extent of disability in the face of cognitive decline. The second and third articles are systematic reviews that examine shared decision-making in dementia care and family relationships of patients with dementia. The final article is a qualitative study that examines how long-term comorbidity self-management is experienced and negotiated by people with dementia and their caregivers. This course will help any Rehab professional who treats older adults with dementia to be a more knowledgeable, compassionate, and thoughtful member of the healthcare team, and thus improve the patient experience.