Older Adults in Crisis

Self-Paced, Online
Fee: $0 (Members); $70 (Nonmembers)
Continuing Education Hours: 4.0

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Course Description

This self-paced course is for helping professionals who support older adults and their families in the community and will cover a wide range of topics at the intersection of aging and mental health. You must engage in interactive video activities, as well as pass quizzes at the end of each module to earn continuing education hours.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the assessment of older adults with mental illness
• List the most common and serious psychiatric issues affecting older adults
• Describe the assessment of older adults suspected to have dementia, including safety concerns and common medical issues
• Appreciate that the treatment of persons with dementia includes addressing cognition, behavior and, in some cases, legal issues
• Describe an inclusive approach to the care of older adults, including sexual and ethnic minority elders and older adults who have experienced trauma

• Chapter 1— Overview of aging & emotional/cognitive/physical health [12:15]
• Chapter 2— Assessment of older adults with mental illness [12:57]
• Chapter 3— Wisconsin Star Method [11:47]

• Chapter 1 – Overview of Psychiatric Disorders Among Older Adults [9:23]
• Chapter 2 – Suicide Among Older Adults [8:50]
• Chapter 3 – Substance Use by Older Adults [6:53]
• Chapter 4 – Severe Mental Illness and Aging [11:09]

• Chapter 1 – Overview of Dementia [20:46]
• Chapter 2 – Assessment of Cognition in Older Adults [9:48]
• Chapter 3 – Safety Issues Affecting Persons with Dementia [9:21]
• Chapter 4 – Common Medical Issues in Persons with Dementia [8:43]

• Chapter 1 – Management of Dementia [13:23]
• Chapter 2 – Management of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia [9:28]
• Chapter 3 – Involuntary Commitment (Ch. 51) and Guardianship (Ch. 55) [9:35]

• Chapter 1 – LGBTQ and Ethnic Minority Elders [14:40]
• Chapter 2 – Trauma-Informed Care and Older Adults [13:35]
• Chapter 3 - Conclusion [9:34]

Dr. Art Walaszek

Dr. Art Walaszek is a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Walaszek is Vice Chair for Education and Faculty Development in the Department of Psychiatry. He is past president of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT), and currently serves on the Psychiatry Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). His research focuses on public health approaches to improving the care of people with dementia. Dr. Walaszek works with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where he is Co-Leader of the Outreach, Recruitment and Education Core, and with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, where he leads the Public Health Pillar. Dr. Walaszek provides care to older adults with depression, anxiety, dementia and other mental health conditions, and teaches others to do the same.