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1 CE HOURMedical Specialities

Geriatric Care: Supporting Aging Patients with Dignity

Course Creator:
Kirsten Hermens, NCMA-P 
 
Total CE Hours: 
1 Credit Hour 
 
Course Number: 
586-4100-26 
 
Key Terms: 
Geriatrics 
Polypharmacy 
Dementia 
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) 
Social Isolation 
Elder Abuse 
Advance Directive 
Patient Dignity 
 
Outline: 
  • Geriatric Care: Supporting Aging Patients with Dignity
    • Introduction
    •  Key terms
  • Geriatric Care
    • What is Geriatric Care?
    •  Why does it matter?
    •  What is the Medical Assistant’s role?
  • Understanding the Aging Process
    • Supporting Aging Patients
    •  Normal Physical Changes in Aging
    •  Cognitive and Emotional Changes
    •  Social Factors Affecting Older Adults
    •  Age-Related Sensory Changes
    •  Promoting Healthy Aging
    •  Understanding Aging with Compassion
  • Common Chronic Conditions in Older Adults
    • Hypertension
    •  Diabetes
    •  Arthritis
    •  Osteoporosis
    •  Heart Disease
    •  COPD
    •  Dementia
  • Communication with Older Adults
    • Best Practices
    •  Supporting Patients with Hearing or Vision Changes
    •  Cognitive Changes and Dementia
  • Mental Health in Older Adults
    • Mental Health in Aging Adults
    •  Common Mental Health Conditions
    •  Depression in Older Adults
    •  Anxiety and Stress
    •  Dementia vs. Normal Aging
    •  Social Isolation and Loneliness
    •  Suicide Risk in Older Adults
    •  Promoting Positive Mental Health
    •  Providing Respectful Mental Health Support
  • Safety for Older Adults
    • Protecting Health, Independence, and Dignity
    • Understanding the Importance of Fall Prevention 
      • Common Causes of Falls
      •  Fall Prevention Strategies
    •  Infection Prevention in Older Adults 
      • MA Infection Prevention Measures
    •  Mobility and Functional Support
      • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
      •  MA Responsibilities for Functional Support
    • Preventing Elder Abuse and Neglect
      • Types of Elder Abuse
      •  Warning Signs of Abuse or Neglect
      •  MA Responsibility
      •  Promoting Safety and Dignity
  • Nutrition and Hydration
    • Supporting Overall Health and Wellness
    •  Common Nutrition and Hydration Concerns
    •  Signs to Watch For
    •  Supporting Healthy Nutrition and Hydration
  • Compassionate and Respectful Geriatric Care
    • Supporting Dignity, Culture, and End-of-Life Needs
      • Cultural Sensitivity and Patient Dignity
        • Providing Culturally Sensitive Care
        •  Preserving Patient Dignity
        •  Respectful Communication Techniques
    •  End-of-Life and Compassionate Care
      • Important End-of-Life Concepts
      •  Advance Directives
      •  MA Role in Compassionate Care
      •  Supporting Families During Difficult Times
    •  Providing Respectful and Compassionate Care
  • Conclusion

References:
 
  1. Primary Care Associates. (n.d.). The importance of geriatric care. Primary Care Associates. https://www.pricaremd.com/blog/the-importance-of-geriatric-care
  2. Gianfredi, V., Nucci, D., Pennisi, F., Maggi, S., Veronese, N., & Soysal, P. (2025). Aging, longevity, and healthy aging: The public health approach. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 37(1), 125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03021-8
  3. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024, November 1). Aging: What to expect. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070
  4. National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). National Institute on Aging. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.nia.nih.gov/
  5. Siewe, Y. J. (2016, October). Understanding the effects of aging on the sensory system (Fact Sheet T-2140). Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/t/understanding-the-effects-of-aging-on-the-sensory-system-t-2140.pdf
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, January 28). About high blood pressure. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/about/index.html
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, January 2). Diabetes basics. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/index.html
  8. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2026, March 3). Arthritis: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772
  9. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025, December 17). Osteoporosis: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968
  10. American College of Cardiology. (2026, April 22). Older adults and heart disease. CardioSmart. https://www.cardiosmart.org/topics/older-adults-and-heart-disease
  11. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2026, March 13). COPD: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms-causes/syc-20353679
  12. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). COPD. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/copd
  13. Alzheimer's Association. (n.d.). What is dementia? https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
  14. Crews, J. E., & Campbell, V. A. (2004). Vision impairment and hearing loss among community-dwelling older Americans: Implications for health and functioning. American Journal of Public Health, 94(5), 823–829. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.94.5.823
  15. National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). Mental and emotional health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/mental-and-emotional-health
  16. Varghese, D., & Patel, P. (2024). Polypharmacy. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532953/
  17. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). As you age: You and your medicines. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients-drugs/you-age-you-and-your-medicines
  18. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, February 6). STEADI: Empowering healthcare providers to reduce fall risk. https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/provider-training/
  19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, January 27). Older adult falls. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/about/index.html
  20. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, April 3). Infection control: About. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/about/index.html