Effective Interventions for Geriatric Patients: Dementias, Challenging Behaviors & More

Mental Health Evaluation

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Alcohol Abuse

Cognitive Disorder and “Forgetfulness”

• Transient Cognitive Decline
• Pre-cursor to dementia
• Mild Neuro-Cognitive Disorder

Diagnostics of Dementing Conditions

• Alzheimer’s
• Vascular
• Parkinson’s
• Lewy Body
• Frontotemporal
• Reversible Conditions

Cognitive Assessment Tools

• Mini-Mental State Examination
• SLUMS
• Clinical applications
• Administration and scoring
• Objective and subjective interpretation
• Therapy modalities

Differentiate Dementia and Depression

• Clinical indicators of depression and anxiety
• Practical application

Psychopharmacology

• Early and Mid-stage Alzheimer’s – Acetylcholinesterace Inhibitors
• Mid and Late-stage Alzheimer’s – Neurotransmitter Glutamate
• Alternate interventions

Behavioral Interventions

• Intervention strategies for depression, poor appetite, verbal and physical combativeness, refusing ADL care
• Strategies for coping mechanisms for the caregiver and clinician

Working with Caregivers at Home & Ethics

• Caregiver guilt
• Depression
• Responsibility to client
• Reporting abuse
• Power of Attorney
• Documentation

Normal Aging, Dementia, Depression or Delirium

• Normal aging changes of the mind
• Depression, dementia, and delirium
• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Diagnose, differentiate, and develop a plan of care

Alzheimer’s Disease

• Stages
• Assessment
• Getting a diagnosis
• Behavioral issues of early diagnosis
• Management and interventions
• Pharmacological treatments

Driving with Dementia

• Driving safety
• Legal issues
• Assess driving abilities
• How to take the keys away

Wandering

• Reasons why cognitively impaired individuals wander
• Is wandering a bad thing?
• Issues to consider
• Manage a wanderer’s behavior

Physical Aggression

• Identify the cause of aggression
• Loss of impulse control
• Regression of the mind/child-like mind
• Manage the problem

Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors

• Normal sexual drive or inappropriate behavior
• Cognitively impaired individuals
• Medication management
• Ethical considerations

Refusing to Eat/Forgetting to Eat

• Reasons why geriatric patients slow or stop eating
• Nutritional needs in a geriatric patient
• Improve nutritional status
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Alternatives to eating

Sleepless Nights

• Sundowning and behavioral problems in the evening
• Why does sundowning occur?
• Environmental interventions to decrease aggressive behaviors
• Medication management when it becomes problematic

Caregiver Stress

• Physical, psychological, and emotional stress
• Identify caregiver burnout and ways to help
• Assist the caregiver

Other Issues

• Ways to identify potential falls and prevent injury
• Causes for orthostatic hypotension
• Ways to avoid using restraints

Roy D. Steinberg, Ph.D., a gero-psychologist with over 22 years of experience, concentrates his work on diagnosing and facilitating treatment of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. He has lectured nationally on the assessment and treatment of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and on increasing attention on caring for caregivers. Dr. Steinberg is the author of Forgetting the Memories: A Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s Disease a guide for caregivers that draws upon his profound knowledge of the disease, its manifestations and treatment, and his great love and tenderness as the son of an Alzheimer’s patient.

Dr. Steinberg maintains a private practice in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to serving older adults and their caregivers. He provides evaluation, consultation, and psychotherapeutic services to older adults in nursing homes, assisted living, and medical facilities. Dr. Steinberg provides outpatient consultation, educational, and counseling services to families and other caregivers of older adults to facilitate coping with the process of dementia.

Dr. Steinberg is licensed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. He received his PhD from the California School of Professional Psychology at Berkeley. He has been featured in numerous media venues, including television, radio, and print.

Steven Atkinson, PA-C, MS, is a Board Certified Physician Assistant specializing in Geriatric Internal Medicine. His clinical experiences are extensive. He has also been graciously recognized for his compassionate and dedicated service in the community within which he serves.

He is frequently asked to medically manage the most difficult patients with dementia-related behaviors and help families gain insight into this disease process. Some of his best talents include educating staff about how to manage various patient behaviors non-pharmacologically. Steven sits on the board of a national hospice group considering the “whole” care of patient with terminal illnesses. He does so to help families understand the palliative benefits hospice can provide a patient.

Just recently, Steven was asked by the Medical School at the University of Colorado to help direct a fellowship program in Geriatrics. He has also spoken at the distinguished and “invitation-only” Denver Pathological Society. Additionally, he continues contributing in a faculty role at the University of Utah.

He is a published author and speaks locally to families and facilities needing guidance about managing behavioral issues. He has spoken nationally and internationally since 2003, providing his expertise in the area of dementia, behavior health, and pharmacology-related topics. Steven has been described as a “dynamic” educator and a highly engaging presenter.

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