Compendium of Educational Offerings Relevant to Interprofessional Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

The Compendium of Educational Offerings Relevant to Interprofessional Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is a result of collaboration between the North East Specialized Geriatric Services (NESGC), Seniors Care Network, and Laurentian Research Institute for Aging (LRIA). This final result of this collaboration is an extensive compendium of educational offerings divided into 3 sections:

Section 1

Freely Available Educational Offerings

Contains over 250 free resources that can be easily accessed online. These offerings vary widely in media type and include learning modules, PowerPoint presentations, lecture slides, videos, pdf documents, and conference recordings, among others.

Jump to Section 1

Section 2

Non Post-Secondary Courses or Educational Offerings with Fees

Includes more than 20 educational offerings, mostly in the form of courses that can be taken online or in a classroom setting, such as Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) in Dementia Care. These offerings have varying costs, time requirements and delivery methods.

Jump to Section 2

Section 3

Post Secondary Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or Continuing Education Programs/Courses in Ontario and Quebec

Includes over 15 CPD programs offered by colleges in Ontario and Quebec, as well as CPD programs offered by universities. Most of these programs can be completed online.

Jump to Section 3

As you will see, this compendium matches the competency statements of the Competency Framework for Interprofessional CGA as well as the Self-Assessment Tool. Once clinicians have developed their SMART learning goals using the Self-Assessment Tool, the compendium can be used to access the relevant education. Given the many educational formats available, clinicians are encouraged to choose offerings that are most appropriate for their preferred style of learning.

Section 1: Freely Available Educational Offerings

  1. Core Geriatric Knowledge Demonstrate fundamental understanding of physiological and biopsychosocial mechanisms of the aging process, age-related changes to functioning, and the impact of frailty.
    1. Apply knowledge of the clinical, socio-behavioural and functional biomedical sciences relevant to geriatric clinical practice, including but not limited to:
      1. Normal Aging
      2. Frailty
      3. Atypical presentation of disease or medical conditions in the older adult
      4. Geriatric management of the older adult with multiple, complex medical conditions
      5. Falls and mobility
      6. Immobility and its complications
      7. Cognitive function
      8. Mid cognitive impairment (MCI)
      9. Dementias including behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD)
      10. Mood disorders and other psychiatric manifestations
      11. Nutrition/Malnutrition
      12. Pain management
      13. Bone disorders
      14. Delirium
      15. Bowel and bladder management
      16. Metabolic disorders
    2. Demonstrate skill in working with older adults with significant functional deficits and communication challenges (e.g cognitive impairment, sensory impairment, behavioural problems or ethno-cultural pluralities).
      1. Demonstrate skill in working with older adults with significant functional deficits and communication challenges
    3. Demonstrate knowledge of medication management, including but not limited to:
      1. Demonstrate knowledge of medication management
      2. Complete a detailed Best Possible Medication History and perform medication reconciliation.
      3. Promote adherence to a prescribed drug regimen.

        • No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

      4. Identify potentially inappropriate medication for an older adult patient.
      5. Recognize polypharmacy.
    4. Demonstrate knowledge of currently accepted recommendations for primary and secondary prevention of common geriatric syndromes:
      1. Demonstrate knowledge of currently accepted recommendations for primary and secondary prevention of common geriatric syndromes
    5. Demonstrate an awareness of the limitations of the scientific literature with regard to generalizability and applicability to a frail older population.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

  2. Screening, Assessment, and Risk Identification Gather patient medical and social history and clinical data in sufficient depth to inform care planning and effective clinical decision making.
    1. Identify and explore issues to be addressed in a patient encounter including the patient’s context and preferences.
      1. Identify and explore issues to be addressed in a patient encounter including the patient’s context and preferences
    2. Conduct an assessment within identified domains of the CGA using clinical acumen in conjunction with standardized, valid, reliable instruments as appropriate.
      1. Abuse
      2. Alcohol Use
      3. Behavioural Issues
      4. Bone Disorders
      5. Bowel/Bladder Management
      6. Care Setting
      7. Cognition
      8. Delirium
      9. Dementia
      10. Driving Safety
      11. Falls/Mobility
      12. Frailty
      13. Function
      14. General/Comprehensive Assessment
      15. Hearing/Vision
      16. Medications/Polypharmacy
      17. Mood Disorders
      18. Nutrition
      19. Oral Health
      20. Pain
      21. Religion/Spirituality
      22. Sexuality
      23. Skin
      24. Sleep
    3. Recognize important clinical indicators to promote patient safety (e.g signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, adverse effects).
      1. Recognize important clinical indicators to promote patient safety
    4. Assess an older person with multiple physical, medical, cognitive/ psychiatric, functional, and/or social problems. ( see 2.b) )

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    5. Identify reliable sources of information to inform the patient history (e.g Cumulative Patient Profile, involved family etc.).
      1. Identify reliable sources of information to inform the patient history
    6. Compile a history, drawing from reliable sources, that is relevant, clear, concise and accurate to context and preferences for the purposes of prevention and health promotion, diagnosis, treatment and/or management. ( see 2.e) )

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    7. Gather information about a patient’s beliefs, concerns, expectations and illness experiences.
      1. Gather information about a patient’s beliefs, concerns, expectations and illness experiences
    8. Collect a collateral history; supporting details from a close source who knows the patient's daily routines and function accurately (e.g family member or caregiver). ( see 2.f) )

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    9. Recognize the significance of behavioural observations in dementia care. ( see 1.a.ix) )

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    10. Assess an older person for their capacity to consent to treatment and make personal decisions.
      1. Assess an older person for their capacity to consent to treatment and make personal decisions
    11. Recognize and identify risk factors for and assess the presence of abuse/neglect (i.e financial, physical, emotional, sexual).
      1. Recognize and identify risk factors for and assess the presence of abuse/neglect
    12. Perform and/or interpret an environmental safety screen.
      1. Perform and/or interpret an environmental safety screen
    13. Identify specific patient vulnerabilities across the social determinants of health (e.g lack if family support, lack of primary care, and chronic mental health issues, financial challenges ect.) that increase the risk the patients needs will not be met.
      1. Identify specific patient vulnerabilities across the social determinants of health that increase the risk the patients needs will not be met
    14. Identify and assess caregiver burden.
      1. Identify and assess caregiver burden
  3. Analysis and Interpretation Conduct accurate analysis of assessment findings and clinical information to develop a complete understanding of the patient's story. Integrate assessment findings within and across domains to formulate a cohesive clinical impression
    1. Synthesize relevant information from multiple sources including perspectives of patients and families, colleagues and other professionals.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    2. Analyze and interpret results against age-appropriate and patient-specific norms.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    3. Analyze and take appropriate action related to important clinical indicators (e.g. signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, adverse effects) to promote patient safety.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    4. Evaluate the reason for change from baseline pre-morbidity to current functional status.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    5. Evaluate the restorative potential of the older patient.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    6. Demonstrate the ability to deal effectively and efficiently with clinical complexity by prioritizing problems.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

  4. Care Planning and Intervention Demonstrate expertise in treatment, education, goal setting, future and advance planning. With patients and their identified support network, formulate comprehensive, collaborative care plans focused on optimization of function and quality of life. Demonstrate knowledge of community resources and appropriate referral sources and mechanisms to access them. Conduct iterative and ongoing review and revision of the care plan and adjust interventions and modify goals as needed.
    1. Engage patients, families, and relevant health professionals in shared decision-making to develop a plan of care.
      1. Engage patients, families, and relevant health professionals in shared decision-making to develop a plan of care.
    2. Evaluate the level of engagement and capabilities of caregivers to meet the needs of older patients.
      1. Evaluate the level of engagement and capabilities of caregivers to meet the needs of older patients
    3. Include interventions to alleviate caregiver burden in the care plan.
      1. Include interventions to alleviate caregiver burden in the care plan
    4. Apply evidence-informed interventions appropriate to geriatric population.
      1. Apply evidence-informed interventions appropriate to geriatric population
    5. Use information about behavioural observations to inform a patient centered goal-based care plan.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    6. Develop care plans that include the use of preventative, adaptive, and therapeutic interventions in collaboration with interprofessional team members.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    7. Negotiate and construct timely care plans reflecting a patient’s goal, beliefs, concerns, and expectations in the context of their health trajectory.
      1. Negotiate and construct timely care plans reflecting a patient’s goal, beliefs, concerns, and expectations in the context of their health trajectory
    8. Clearly synthesize the agreed interventions and responsibilities including follow up actions.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    9. Assure that individual responsibilities in a specific care plan are explicit and understood.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    10. Check for patient and family understanding, ability, and willingness to follow through with recommended interventions within recommended time frames.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    11. Encourage participation in health promotion and disease prevention activities.
      1. Encourage participation in health promotion and disease prevention activities
    12. Promote safety while respecting patient autonomy in care plan decisions.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    13. Propose a safety plan in response to abuse, in conjunction with clinical team and others (e.g. Police).

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    14. Mediate situations of conflict between older adults and their family members in relation to care planning.
      1. Mediate situations of conflict between older adults and their family members in relation to care planning
    15. Conduct follow-up consultations to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of care plans.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    16. Assess acceptance, tolerance, safety, and adherence to the care plan.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca

    17. Continue to refine interventions based on patient’s response and goal attainment.

      1. No identified educational resources for this behavioural statement at this time, if you have a resource in this area please contact kkay@rgpo.ca