Enhanced Skills Program: Care of the Elderly Cognition and Memory Rotation Goals and Objectives

By the end of the rotation, the resident will be able to:

Effectively perform a comprehensive cognitive assessment including focused dementia history and use of validated tools to diagnose dementia syndromes.
Accurately formulate a working diagnosis and differential diagnosis consistent with current diagnostic criteria, including criteria for AD, VaD, mixed dementia, FTD, and DLB.
Develop an appropriate plan to enhance diagnostic clarity including ordering of laboratory tests and scans.
Demonstrate an understanding of treatment options.
Perform an appropriate focused physical exam relevant to the assessment of an individual with cognitive concerns.
Recognize the potential role of other health issues in the presentation of decreased cognitive performance in older adults and manages these factors appropriately.
Demonstrate appropriate understanding of pharmacotherapy for patients with dementia, including an understanding of the benefits, risks limitations and potential adverse effects of these medications.
Assess the needs of caregivers, including an assessment of potential abuse and caregiver stress.
Implement appropriate non-pharmacological interventions for patients with dementia.

Develop rapport, trust and ethical therapeutic relationships with patients with dementia and their families. Skillfully recognizes and manages communication challenges with older patients with cognitive disorders.
Accurately elicit and synthesize information from and perspectives of patients and families.
Accurately convey needed information and explanations to patients and families.
Develops a common understanding of issues, problems and plans with patients and families and provides and follow-up on a shared plan of care.

Participate effectively and appropriately in an interprofessional healthcare team. Collaborate with community agencies (as required) and other professionals.

Allocate finite healthcare resources appropriately (i.e. referrals to other professionals, community resources)

Respond to individual patient health needs and issues as part of patient care. Advocates for individual patients around relevant health matters.

Maintain and enhances professional activities through ongoing self-directed learning based on reflective practice.
Critically evaluates medical information, its sources and its relevance to their practice, and applies this information to practice decisions.
Facilitate the education of patients, families, trainees and other health professional colleagues, and the public, as appropriate.

Demonstrate a commitment to their patients, profession, and society through ethical practice.