Basic Course in Elder Care

Target Audience

The course is aimed at formal and informal caregivers of elderly individuals, family members who assist seniors, professionals and students in the health and social assistance fields, as well as the general community interested in acquiring basic knowledge about safe, humanized, and qualified care for the elderly.

Justification

The number of elderly people is increasing rapidly, and currently, the country has over 30.2 million seniors, which represents 14.6% of the population (IBGE, 2018). By the year 2070, it is estimated that seniors will represent 35% of the total Brazilian population (IBGE, 2016). It is important to highlight that, among the elderly, the fastest-growing segment is the oldest old, that is, individuals aged 80 years or older (IBGE, 2019).

General Objective

To train participants to act safely, ethically, and humanely in caring for the elderly, developing knowledge about the main health conditions related to aging and practical skills for performing essential care, such as safety measures, correct medication administration, hygiene, nutrition, mobilization, and monitoring of physical activities, contributing to the promotion of health, well-being, and quality of life for the elderly population.

Specific Objectives

• Understand the basic concepts of anatomy and physiology of the elderly, identifying the main changes resulting from the aging process.
• Know the main diseases affecting the elderly population, recognizing their signs, symptoms, and basic care.
• Identify and apply safety measures aimed at preventing accidents and promoting safe care for the elderly.
• Understand the basic principles related to the administration and safe use of the most commonly used medications by the elderly, recognizing the importance of treatment adherence and necessary care.
• Develop knowledge about the basic hygiene procedures for the elderly, including bed baths and sponge baths, respecting the principles of comfort, safety, and dignity.
• Know the basic concepts of nutrition and hydration for the elderly, considering their nutritional needs and care during meals.
• Learn basic techniques for mobilizing and transferring the elderly from bed to chair, prioritizing the safety of both the elderly and the caregiver.
• Understand the importance of physical activity for promoting health and autonomy in the elderly, knowing safe ways to monitor and encourage activities compatible with their physical conditions.

Course Content

[dropdown-title] Module 1 - Basic concepts of human anatomy and physiology of the elderly [/dropdown-title]

[dropdown-title] Module 2 - Basic concepts of the main diseases associated with aging [/dropdown-title]

[dropdown-title] Module 3 - Safety measures in caring for the elderly [/dropdown-title]

[dropdown-title] Module 4 - Basic concepts of medications used by the elderly [/dropdown-title]

[dropdown-title] Module 5 - Basic concepts of hygiene (bed bath and sponge bath) [/dropdown-title]

[dropdown-title] Module 6 - Basic concepts of nutrition for the elderly [/dropdown-title]

[dropdown-title] Module 7 - Basic concepts of transferring from bed to chair [/dropdown-title]

[dropdown-title] Module 8 - Basic concepts of physical activities with the elderly [/dropdown-title]