Program Overview

Professional/Short Course: Complexities of Caring for Older People

Course Overview

The Complexities of Caring for Older People is a 20 credit level 6 or level 7 module designed for registered health or social care practitioners working within primary and/or secondary care settings. This module aims to provide participants with the knowledge and skills required to deliver best practice in caring for older people.

Course Details

• Course code: UZTRWM203
• Level: Professional/Short Course
• School: School of Health and Social Wellbeing
• Duration: Seven days spread over 2+ months
• Delivery: Online
• Course Director: Harriet Nicholls

About the Module

This module allows participants to study at either Level 6 (BSc level) or Level 7 (Masters level), depending on their academic circumstances. It provides an in-depth exploration of the complexities of caring for older people, including current policy drivers, service improvement initiatives, and the development of proposals for innovation in practice.

Learning Outcomes

At Level 6 (UZTRWM-20-3), participants will be able to:

• Analyse literature, research, and policy related to the complex care of older adults
• Identify areas for service improvement and innovation within their practice
• Analyse opportunities for and challenges to integrated practice in managing complex care needs
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of health promotion and disease prevention in older people
• Critically appraise ethical and legal issues relating to professional practice in the care of older people

At Level 7 (UZTRWN-20-M), participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate in-depth and advanced knowledge and analysis of literature, research, and policy
• Synthesise a wide range of evidence to initiate and lead service improvement
• Critically evaluate opportunities for and challenges to integrated practice
• Evidence comprehensive knowledge and understanding of health promotion and disease prevention
• Critically appraise ethical and legal issues relating to professional practice

Careers and Further Study

This module can contribute towards various awards, including the PGCert Health and Social Care, MSc Clinical Practice, and Professional Development Awards. The Level 6 module can contribute towards the BSc(Hons) Professional Development, while the Level 7 module can contribute towards the MSc Specialist Practice (District Nursing), MSc Advanced Practice, and MSc Professional Development.

Module Structure

Content

The module syllabus includes topics such as:

• Older people: background and context
• Healthy Ageing
• Psychosocial theories of ageing
• Biological perspective of ageing
• Atypical presentation of illness
• Multi-morbidities and complex care
• Prevention and management of falls
• Frailty
• Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
• Appropriate/inappropriate prescribing in older adults
• Mental capacity act and decision making
• Dementia, delirium, and depression
• Interagency collaboration and integrated teams
• Social care for older people with long-term conditions
• Health promotion and self-management strategies
• Digital technologies
• End of life care in older people

Learning and Teaching

The module utilises multiple learning methods, including lectures, seminars, and Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). Participants will need to be enrolled on the module to access learning materials on the virtual learning environment.

Assessment

Assessment comprises both formative and summative elements, including a 3,000-word written assignment that enables participants to critically consider relevant literature, research, and policy to identify a service improvement related to their field/context of practice in the care of older people.