Between 5.6 and 8 million, nearly one in five elderly people in America suffer from at least one illness impacting psychological wellness, according to an escalating report released last year by the Institute of Medicine. Among these devastating cognitive/emotional conditions is Alzheimer’s, a study often associated with multiple physical problems and psycho/social co-morbidities that occur during a period of life transition Today, however, too few medical professionals, nursing staff included, are effectively equipped to handle the unique difficulties of looking after for this weak, insecure population, one bound to grow as Baby Boomers age.
To address this worrying gap in medical knowledge and clinical practice by the medical workforce on the frontline of primary care for elderly people, the National League for Nursing will create specific curricula and sources for the National League for Nursing’s nationally renowned trademark program in geriatrics education: ACES (Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors). With a $125,000 grant from MetLife Foundation to the National League for Nursing foundation for Nursing Education, funds will be used in 2013 to develop three inter-professional training techniques and three unfolding web-based case research for ACES.
Related models, also to be developed as part of the new project, will provide staff with classroom-ready templates for training and guidelines for developing new knowledge into the core program. In addition, the unfolding situation research and relevant models will emphasize complex medical care situations experienced by Alzheimer’s disease sufferers and their families, introducing learners with opportunities to think and act in ‘real time,’ using evidence-based medical evaluation and involvement techniques. “By adding specific program sources for training about proper care for sufferers with Alzheimer’s and their care providers, the National League for Nursing will be an important resource for staff to train learners in recovery, wellness promotion, medical care and public service recommendation for the specific care for elderly people with mental problems, specifically Alzheimer’s,” stated National League for Nursing chief executive Judith A. Halstead, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF.